A theoretical study on vibronic spectra and photo conversation process of protonated naphthalenes

The equilibrium structures and vibrational frequencies of the ground state and several singlet low-lying excited states of alpha-and beta-protonated naphthalenes (alpha-and beta-HN+) have been studied by time -dependent density -functional theory (TD-DFT). Within the Franck -Condon approximation, vibronic absorption spectra of alpha-HN+ and beta-HN+, together with the vibronic emission spectrum of alpha-HN+, have been calculated. The obtained good agreement between the theoretical and experimental spectra enables to correctly assign vibronic features in both absorption and emission spectra. Moreover, the non -radiative deactivation pathway from the low-lying excite states to the ground state in alpha-HN+ and beta-HN+, as well as the photo-induce proton transfer pathway, are investigated at the CASPT2/CASSCF/6-31G* level. Our study is helpful for understanding the photochemical behavior of these important polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.