@article{VazdaCruzEckertFoehlisch2021, author = {Vaz da Cruz, Vin{\´i}cius and Eckert, Sebastian and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {TD-DFT simulations of K-edge resonant inelastic X-ray scattering within the restricted subspace approximation}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European Chemical Societies}, volume = {23}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European Chemical Societies}, number = {3}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/d0cp04726k}, pages = {1835 -- 1848}, year = {2021}, abstract = {A scheme for simulations of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) cross-sections within time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) applying the restricted subspace approximation (RSA) is presented. Therein both occupied core and valence Kohn-Sham orbitals are included in the donor-space, while the accepting virtual orbital space in the linear response TD-DFT equations is restricted to efficiently compute both the valence- and core-excited states of the many electron system. This yields a consistent description of all states contributing to the RIXS scattering process within a single calculation. The introduced orbital truncation allows to automatize the method and facilitates RIXS simulations for systems considerably larger than ones accessible with wave-function based methods. Using the nitrogen K-edge RIXS spectra of 2-thiopyridone and its deprotonated anion as a showcase, the method is benchmarked for different exchange-correlation functionals, the impact of the RSA is evaluated, and the effects of explicit solvation are discussed. Improvements compared to simulations in the frozen orbital approximation are also assessed. The general applicability of the framework is further tested by comparison to experimental data from the literature. The use of TD-DFT core-excited states to the calculation of vibrationally resolved RIXS spectra is also investigated by combining potential energy scans along relevant coordinates with wave packet simulations.}, language = {en} } @article{EckertVazdaCruzOchmannetal.2021, author = {Eckert, Sebastian and Vaz da Cruz, Vin{\´i}cius and Ochmann, Miguel and Ahnen, Inga von and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander and Huse, Nils}, title = {Breaking the symmetry of pyrimidine}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry letters}, volume = {12}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry letters}, number = {35}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1948-7185}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01865}, pages = {8637 -- 8643}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Symmetry and its breaking crucially define the chemical properties of molecules and their functionality. Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering is a local electronic structure probe reporting on molecular symmetry and its dynamical breaking within the femtosecond scattering duration. Here, we study pyrimidine, a system from the C-2v point group, in an aqueous solution environment, using scattering though its 2a(2) resonance. Despite the absence of clean parity selection rules for decay transitions from in-plane orbitals, scattering channels including decay from the 7b(2) and 11a(1) orbitals with nitrogen lone pair character are a direct probe for molecular symmetry. Computed spectra of explicitly solvated molecules sampled from a molecular dynamics simulation are combined with the results of a quantum dynamical description of the X-ray scattering process. We observe dominant signatures of core-excited Jahn-Teller induced symmetry breaking for resonant excitation. Solvent contributions are separable by shortening of the effective scattering duration through excitation energy detuning.}, language = {en} } @article{BuechnerFondellMascarenhasetal.2021, author = {B{\"u}chner, Robby and Fondell, Mattis and Mascarenhas, Eric Johnn and Pietzsch, Annette and Vaz da Cruz, Vin{\´i}cius and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {How hydrogen bonding amplifies isomeric differences in pyridones toward strong changes in acidity and tautomerism}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry : B, Condensed matter, materials, surfaces, interfaces \& biophysical chemistry}, volume = {125}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry : B, Condensed matter, materials, surfaces, interfaces \& biophysical chemistry}, number = {9}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1520-6106}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c10873}, pages = {2372 -- 2379}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Steric hindrance of hydration and hydrogen bond enhancement by localized charges have been identified as key factors for the massive chemical differences between the hydroxypyridine/pyridone isomers in aqueous solution. While all isomers occur mainly in the hydroxypyridine form in the gas phase, they differ by more than 3 orders of magnitude both in their acidity and tautomeric equilibrium constants upon hydration. By monitoring the electronic and solvation structures as a function of the protonation state and the O- substitution position on the pyridine ring, the amplification of the isomeric differences in aqueous solution has been investigated. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurements at the N K-edge served as the probe of the chemical state. The combination of molecular dynamics simulations, complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF), and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) spectral calculations contributes to unraveling the principles of tautomerism and acidity in multiple biochemical systems based on tautomerism.}, language = {en} } @article{BuechnerFondellHaverkampetal.2021, author = {B{\"u}chner, Robby and Fondell, Mattis and Haverkamp, Robert and Pietzsch, Annette and Vaz da Cruz, Vin{\´i}cius and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {The porphyrin center as a regulator for metal-ligand covalency and pi hybridization in the entire molecule}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European Chemical Societies}, volume = {23}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European Chemical Societies}, number = {43}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/d1cp03944j}, pages = {24765 -- 24772}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The central moiety of porphyrins is shown to control the charge state of the inner complex and links it by covalent interaction to the peripheral substituents. This link, which enables the versatile functions of porphyrins, is not picked up in the established, reduced four orbital picture [Gouterman, J. Mol. Spectrosc., 1961, 6, 138]. X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the N K-edge with density functional theory approaches gives access to the full electronic structure, in particular the pi* manifold beyond the Gouterman orbitals. Systematic variation of the central moiety highlights two linked, governing trends: The ionicity of the porphyrin center increases from the aminic N-H to N-Cu to N-Zn to N-Mg to the iminic N:. At the same time covalency with peripheral substituents increases and compensates the buildup of high charge density at the coordinated nitrogen sites.}, language = {en} }