FACILITATED PHOTOLYSIS OF 9-FLUORENOL IN ALCOHOLS BY EXCITED-STATE HYDROGEN BOND REORGANIZATION

Abstract

Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and second-order coupled cluster method with resolution-of-the-identity approximation (RICC2) were used to investigate the photolysis dynamics of 9-fluorenol (FOH) in alcohols. In this work, a novel mechanism for the accelerated photolysis dynamics of FOH in alcohols is proposed for the first time. The two hydrogen bonds present different effects in the dissociation process of C9–O bond in MeOH⋯FOH⋯MeOH trimer: formation of hydrogen bond MeOH⋯FOH could weaken the C9–O bond, while, hydrogen bond FOH⋯MeOH fastens the bond. Moreover, the thermodynamic equilibrium can be accomplished in both ground and excited states between hydrogen-bonded complexes, since the hydrogen bond reorganization occurs in hundreds of femtosecond upon the excitation. The excited-state potential energy (PE) curves along C9–O bond have been optimized in S1 state. The cleavage of C9–O bond upon the photoexcitation would be facilitated effectively in MeOH⋯FOH dimer. This leads the thermodynamic equilibrium between hydrogen-bonded complexes leaning to the side of MeOH⋯FOH dimer to quench the fluorescence. Therefore, the photolysis of 9-fluorenol in alcohols can be facilitated effectively by MeOH⋯FOH hydrogen bond via excited-state hydrogen bond reorganization. Additionally, the excited-state hydrogen bond reorganization is also the rate-controlling step in photolysis of FOH in alcohols, since there is no barrier in the PE curve of MeOH⋯FOH dimer.