Correlation consistent basis sets have been optimized for accurately describing core-core and core-valence correlation effects with explicitly correlated F12 methods. The new sets, denoted cc-pCVnZ-F12 (n=D, T, Q) and aug-cc-pC(F12)VnZ (n=D, T, Q, 5), were developed by augmenting the cc-pVnZ-F12 and aug-cc-pVnZ families of basis sets with additional functions whose exponents were optimized based on the difference between all-electron and valence-electron correlation energies. The number of augmented functions added is fewer, in general, than in the standard cc-pCVnZ and cc-pwCVnZ families of basis sets. Optimal values of the geminal Slater exponent for use with these basis sets in MP2-F12 calculations are presented and are also recommended for CCSD-F12b calculations. Auxiliary basis sets for use in the resolution of the identity approximation in explicitly correlated calculations have also been optimized and matched to the new cc-pCVnZ-F12 series of orbital basis sets. The cc-pCVnZ-F12 basis sets, along with the new auxiliary sets, were benchmarked in CCSD(T)-F12b calculations of spectroscopic properties on a series of homo- and heteronuclear first and second row diatomic molecules. Comparing the effects of correlating the outer core electrons in these molecules with those from conventional CCSD(T) at the complete basis set limit, which involved calculations with new cc-pCV6Z basis sets for the second row elements that were also developed in the course of this work, it is observed that the F12 values are reasonably well converged already at just the triple-zeta level.

The variations in band shape with excited state energy found for the triplet metal to ligand charge transfer ((3)MLCT) emission spectra of ruthenium-bipyridine (Ru-bpy) chromophores at 77 K have been postulated to arise from excited state/excited state configurational mixing. This issue is more critically examined through the determination of the excited state energy dependence of the radiative rate constants (kRAD) for these emissions. Experimental values for kRAD were determined relative to known literature references for Ru-bpy complexes. When the lowest energy excited states are metal centered, kRAD can be anomalously small and such complexes have been identified using density functional theory (DFT) modeling. When such complexes are removed from the energy correlation, there is a strong (3)MLCT energy-dependent contribution to kRAD in addition to the expected classical energy cubed factor for complexes with excited state energies greater than 10 000 cm(-1). This correlates with the DFT calculations which show significant excited state electronic delocalization between a π(bpy-orbital) and a half-filled dπ*-(Ru(III)-orbital) for Ru-bpy complexes with (3)MLCT excited state energies greater than about 16 000 cm(-1). Overall, this work implicates the "stealing" of emission bandshapes as well as intensity from the higher energy, strongly allowed bpy-centered singlet ππ* excited state.

Langmuir-Blodgett films of metallosurfactants were used in Au|molecule|Au devices to investigate the mechanisms of current rectification.

Metal complexes that release ligands upon photoexcitation are important tools for biological research and show great potential as highly specific therapeutics. Upon excitation with visible light, [Ru(TQA)(MeCN)2]2+ [TQA = tris(2-quinolinylmethyl)amine] exchanges one of the two acetonitriles (MeCNs), whereas [Ru(DPAbpy)MeCN]2+ [DPAbpy = N-(2,2′-bipyridin-6-yl)-N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amine] does not release MeCN. Furthermore, [Ru-(TQA)(MeCN)2]2+ is highly selective for release of the MeCN that is perpendicular to the plane of the two axial quinolines. Density functional theory calculations provide a clear explanation for the photodissociation behavior of these two complexes. Excitation by visible light and intersystem crossing leads to a six-coordinate 3MLCT state. Dissociation of acetonitrile can occur after internal conversion to a dissociative 3MC state, which has an occupied dσ* orbital that interacts in an antibonding fashion with acetonitrile. For [Ru(TQA)(MeCN)2]2+, the dissociative 3MC state is lower than the 3MLCT state. In contrast, the 3MC state of [Ru(DPAbpy)MeCN]2+ that releases acetonitrile has an energy higher than that of the 3MLCT state, indicating dissociation is unfavorable. These results are consistent with the experimental observations that efficient photodissociation of acetonitrile occurs for [Ru(TQA)(MeCN)2]2+ but not for [Ru(DPAbpy)MeCN]2+. For the release of the MeCN ligand in [Ru(TQA)(MeCN)2]2+ that is perpendicular to the axial quinoline rings, the 3MLCT state has an occupied quinoline π* orbital that can interact with a dσ* Ru–NCCH3 antibonding orbital as the Ru–NCCH3 bond is stretched and the quinolines bend toward the departing acetonitrile. This reduces the barrier for the formation of the dissociative 3MC state, leading to the selective photodissociation of this acetonitrile. By contrast, when the acetonitrile is in the plane of the quinolines or bpy, no interaction occurs between the ligand π* orbital and the dσ* Ru–NCCH3 orbital, resulting in high barriers for conversion to the corresponding 3MC structures and no release of acetonitrile.

This is the first report of the 77 K triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) emission spectra of pentaammine-MDA-ruthenium(II) ([Ru(NH3)5(MDA)](2+)) complexes, where MDA is a monodentate aromatic ligand. The emission spectra of these complexes and of the related trans-[Ru(NH3)4(MDA) (MDA')](2+) complexes are closely related, and their emission intensities are very weak. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the energies of the lowest (3)MLCT excited states of Ru-MDA complexes are either similar to or lower than those of the lowest energy metal-centered excited states ((3)MC(X(Y))), that the barrier to internal conversion at 77 K is large compared to kBT, and that the (3)MC(X(Y)) excited states are weakly bound. The [Ru(NH3)5py](2+) complex is an exception to the general pattern: emission has been observed for the [Ru(ND3)5(d5-py)](2+) complex, but its lifetime is apparently very short. DFT modeling indicates that the excited state distortions of the different (3)MC excited states are very large and are in both Ru-ligand bonds along a single Cartesian axis for each different (3)MC excited state, nominally resulting in (3)MC(X(Y)), (3)MC((X)Y), and (3)MC(Z) lowest energy metal-centered states. The (3)MC(X(Y)) and (3)MC((X)Y) states appear to be the pseudo-Jahn-Teller distorted components of a (3)MC((XY)) state. The (3)MC(X(Y)) states are distorted up to 0.5 Å in each H3N-Ru-NH3 bond along a single Cartesian axis in the pentaammine and trans-tetraammine complexes, whereas the (3)MC(Z) states are found to be dissociative. DFT modeling of the (3)MLCT excited state of [Ru(NH3)5(py)](2+) indicates that the Ru center has a spin density of 1.24 at the (3)MLCT energy minimum and that the (3)MLCT → (3)MC(Z) crossing is smooth with a very small barrier (<0.5 kcal/mol) along the D3N-Ru-py distortion coordinate, implying strong (3)MLCT/(3)MC excited state configurational mixing. Furthermore, the DFT modeling indicates that the long-lived intermediate observed in earlier flash photolysis studies of [Ru(NH3)5py](2+) is a Ru(II)-(η(2)(C═C)-py) species.