Insights from Theory and Experiment on the Photochromic spiro-Dihydropyrrolo–Pyridazine/Betaine System

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• 作者：Amendra Fernando ; Tej B. Shrestha ; Yao Liu ; Aruni P. Malalasekera ; Jing Yu ; Emily J. McLaurin ; Claudia Turro ; Stefan H. Bossmann ; Christine M. Aikens
• 刊名：Journal of Physical Chemistry A
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：February 18, 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：120
• 期：6
• 页码：875-883
• 全文大小：515K
• ISSN：1520-5215

文摘

We elucidated the photochromic spiro-4a,5-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-b]pyridazine/betaine (DPP/betaine) system by comparing state-of-the-art density functional theory calculations with nanosecond/millisecond UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, as well as steady-state absorption and cyclization kinetics. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations are employed to examine the transformations occurring after photoexcitation. This study shows that the photochromic spiro-4a,5-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-b]pyridazine and spiro-1,8a-dihydroindolizine (DHI) systems react according to similar pathways. However, notable differences exist. Although photoexcitation of the spiro-DPP system also leads to cis-betaines, which then isomerize to trans-betaines, we found two distinct classes of cis isomers (cis-betaine rotamer-1 and cis-betaine rotamer-2), which do not exist in spiro-1,8a-dihydroindolizine. Similar to our previous study on the spiro-DHI/betaine system, a complicated potential-energy landscape between cis and trans isomers exists in the spiro-DPP system, consisting of a network of transition states and intermediates. Because the spiro-DPP/betaine is even more complicated than the spiro-DHI/betaine system, (substituted) photochromic systems featuring a 4a,5-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-b]pyridazine functional unit will require thorough in silico design to function properly as logical gates or in devices for information storage.