Structures and energies of low-lying doublet excited states of N3 from accurate configuration interaction calculations

The low-lying doublet excited states of the azide radical (N3) have been studied at a highly multireference ab initio level of theory including basis sets up to augmented quadruple- quality. A full hypersurface scan under C2v restrictions for five low-lying bent N3 states (2A2, 2A1, 2B1, and two 2B2) revealed a highly complex potential surface manifold with many stationary points, conical intersections and multiple surface crossings, all of which have been characterized at a high level of theory. The behavior of these states is discussed, especially as a function of the NNN angle. At least two new low-lying pathways on the excited surfaces leading from the linear to the cyclic-N3 region were found, both involving the components of the degenerate excited 2u state of linear N3.

Duke Scholars

Author Peng Zhang Chemistry