Ultrafast Ring-Opening Reaction of 1,3-Cyclohexadiene: Identification of Nonadiabatic Pathway via Doubly Excited State

Shutaro Karashima, Alexander Humeniuk, Ryuta Uenishi, Takuya Horio, Manabu Kanno, Tetsuro Ohta, Junichi Nishitani, Roland Mitrić, Toshinori Suzuki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The photoinduced ring-opening reaction of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD) to produce 1,3,5-hexatriene (HT) plays an essential role in the photobiological synthesis of vitamin D3 in the skin. This reaction follows the Woodward-Hoffmann rule, and C5-C6 bond rupture via an electronically excited state occurs with conrotatory motion of the end CH2 groups. However, it is noted that the photoexcited S1(π,π*) state of CHD is not electronically correlated with the ground state of HT, and the reaction must proceed via nonadiabatic transitions. In the present study, we have clearly observed the nonadiabatic reaction pathway via the doubly excited state of CHD using ultrafast extreme UV photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicate that the reaction occurs in only 68 fs and creates product vibrational coherence. Extensive computational simulations support the interpretation of experimental results and provide further insights into the electronic dynamics in this paradigmatic electrocyclic ring-opening reaction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8034-8045
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume143
Issue number21
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Jun 2

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Chemistry(all)
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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