Ab initio molecular orbital study on the excited states of [2.2]-, [3.3]-, and siloxane-bridged paracyclophanes

Paracyclophanes are simple idealized model molecules for the study of interacting π-stacking systems. In this study, the excited states of [2.2]paracyclophane ([2.2]PCP), [3.3]paracyclophane ([3.3]PCP), and siloxane-bridged paracyclophane (SiPCP) are systematically investigated using the multiconfiguration quasi-degenerated perturbation theory (MCQDPT) method. The excited states of the alkyl- and silyl-substituted benzene monomers and benzene dimer, which can be regarded as the building blocks of paracyclophanes, are also examined at the same level of theory for more detailed understanding. The accuracy of the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) method required for excited state geometry optimization of the paracyclophanes is confirmed from calculations of the benzene dimer. The equilibrium distances between the benzene rings of the paracyclophanes in the first excited states are shorter than those in the ground state, and the benzene rings at the excited state optimized geometries are in an almost eclipsed parallel configuration, which indicates excimer formation. The calculated transition energies and oscillator strengths are generally in good agreement with the corresponding experimental results. A clear correlation between the excited state properties and the molecular structures is systematically demonstrated based on the calculation results for the substituted benzene monomers and benzene dimer. The transition energies of SiPCP are close to the corresponding absorption and fluorescence energies of the experimentally studied phenylene-silica hybrids, which indicates that the electronic properties of organic-silica hybrids, which is a new class of material with potential in photofunctional applications, can be approximated by simple siloxane-bridged cyclophane derivatives.