TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantum-chemical approach to the solvatochromic transition in polysilane derivatives
AU - Orimoto, Yuuichi
AU - Aoki, Yuriko
PY - 2006/1/1
Y1 - 2006/1/1
N2 - We approached the solvatochromic transition observed in polysilane derivatives (poly[bis(4-propoxybutyl)silylene] (PPBS)) from the standpoint of various quantum chemical treatments. It was found from conventional geometry optimizations at the levels of semiempirical and ab initio molecular orbital methods that a protonation to polysilane oligomers with side chain R = -OCH 3 results in the conformational change of Si-backbone to a trans-zigzag structure. Using the Elongation method, which was developed for efficient calculations of huge systems, it was demonstrated that a protonation could change the conformation of Si-backbone to a trans-zigzag structure over 10-14 Si atoms. In addition, ab initio calculations showed that the positive charge of a proton can delocalize into the Si-backbone through a long side chain in PPBS. Positively charged polysilane oligomers provide a rotational barrier that prefers a trans-zigzag structure, whereas neutral oligomers have a barrier that results to a random structure. This unique behavior of the charged polysilane oligomers should not be disregarded in understanding the mechanism of the solvatochromic transition in PPBS. In ab initio configuration interaction/Møller-Plesset through-space/bond interaction analysis, it was found that such a unique behavior of the rotational barrier in polysilane oligomers could be explained by the effect of orbital delocalization through σ-conjugation on the Si-backbone.
AB - We approached the solvatochromic transition observed in polysilane derivatives (poly[bis(4-propoxybutyl)silylene] (PPBS)) from the standpoint of various quantum chemical treatments. It was found from conventional geometry optimizations at the levels of semiempirical and ab initio molecular orbital methods that a protonation to polysilane oligomers with side chain R = -OCH 3 results in the conformational change of Si-backbone to a trans-zigzag structure. Using the Elongation method, which was developed for efficient calculations of huge systems, it was demonstrated that a protonation could change the conformation of Si-backbone to a trans-zigzag structure over 10-14 Si atoms. In addition, ab initio calculations showed that the positive charge of a proton can delocalize into the Si-backbone through a long side chain in PPBS. Positively charged polysilane oligomers provide a rotational barrier that prefers a trans-zigzag structure, whereas neutral oligomers have a barrier that results to a random structure. This unique behavior of the charged polysilane oligomers should not be disregarded in understanding the mechanism of the solvatochromic transition in PPBS. In ab initio configuration interaction/Møller-Plesset through-space/bond interaction analysis, it was found that such a unique behavior of the rotational barrier in polysilane oligomers could be explained by the effect of orbital delocalization through σ-conjugation on the Si-backbone.
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U2 - 10.1002/polb.20677
DO - 10.1002/polb.20677
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:30344484228
VL - 44
SP - 119
EP - 133
JO - Journal of Polymer Science, Polymer Letters Edition
JF - Journal of Polymer Science, Polymer Letters Edition
SN - 0887-6266
IS - 1
ER -