Electronic transitions inpolyatomic molecules
11-11-2024 COD 2
HOMO
LUMO
The energy differences between electronic levels in most molecules vary from 150 to
600 kJ/mole (kilojoules per mole).
Absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the
region 200-800 nm
-sigma to sigma star: Involves electrons in single bonds
-pi to pi star: Involves electrons in double/triple bonds
-n to sigma star or pi star: Involves lone pairs (non-bonding electrons)
-In charge-transfer complexes, an electron moves from a donor (e.g., ligand or
metal) to an acceptor (often a metal or ligand).
-intense and easily detectable in UV-Vis because the transition dipole moment
is large.
If the energy of this light
matches the energy gap (delta
E) between the molecule’s
ground state (HOMO) and
excited state (LUMO), electrons
absorb the energy and jump to
a higher energy level.
Not all metals can be analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy.
Only those with suitable electronic transitions in the UV-Visible range (like many transition and
f-block metals) give useful spectra.
Selection rules forelectronic transitions
The n to π* transition is the most common type of forbidden transition.
Selection Rules
∆S =0 and ∆l = ∓1
-If an electron has spin +½ before excitation, it must
stay +½ after excitation
-ie,singlet - Singlet (allowed)
Triplet -Triplet (allowed)
Singlet - Triplet (not allowed - "spin forbidden"
- s -p, p -d, or d -p are allowed (delta L = ±1)
- But s - s or d - d are forbidden (delta L = 0)
10.
MO diagram ofelectronic transitions
COD 10
sigma orbital =a bonding orbital formed
by the end-to-end overlap of atomic
orbitals (like C-C or C-H).
sigma star = antibonding orbital (higher
in energy).
Transition
Electron gets excited from the sigma
bonding orbital to the sigma star
antibonding orbital.
Characteristics:
Requires very high energy (usually far
UV region, less than 200 nm).
pi orbital = bonding orbital formed by sideways overlap
of p orbitals (e.g., in C=C or aromatic rings).
pi star= antibonding orbital.
Transition:
Electron jumps from pi bonding orbital to pi star
antibonding orbital.
Characteristics:
Occurs in unsaturated compounds like alkenes,
aromatics.
Strong absorption in UV-Vis region (~200–400 nm).
Intense bands in spectra due to allowed transitions.
n orbital = nonbonding orbital (lone pairs),
e.g., on oxygen, nitrogen, or halogens.
sigma star = antibonding sigma orbital.
Transition:
Lone pair electron on heteroatom (like O or N)
is promoted to sigma star orbital.
Characteristics:
Found in saturated compounds with lone pairs
like alcohols, amines.
Occurs in the UV region (~150–250 nm).
Usually weaker absorption than pi-pi star
11.
MO diagram ofelectronic transitions in >C=O group
COD 11
sigma bonding
pi bonding
n non bonding
pi star anti bonding
Solvents used inUV-Vis Spectra
COD 16
1. Solvents should be transparent to UV-Vis
2. Non-polar solvents will not form H-bonds
with the substrate and hence fine structure is
often observed
3.
Effect of conjugation
18
Oneof the best ways to bring about a bathochromic shift is to
increase the extent of conjugation in a double-bonded system.
In the presence of conjugated double bonds, the electronic
energy levels of a chromophore move closer together. As a
result, the energy required to produce a transition from an
occupied electronic energy level to an unoccupied level
decreases, and the wavelength of the light absorbed becomes
longer.
Conjugation of two chromophores not only results in a
bathochromic shift but increases the intensity of the
absorption. These two effects are of prime importance in the
use and interpretation of electronic spectra of organic
molecules because conjugation shifts the selective light
absorption of isolated chromophores from a region of the
spectrum that is not readily accessible to a region that is
accessible.
19.
Effect of conjugationin alkenes
19
CH3-(CH=CH)n-CH3 ultraviolet spectra of
dimethylpolyenes (a) n = 3; (b) n = 4; (c) n = 5