Theoretical modeling of electronic absorption spectra of ionized species of β-diketones

Context

Direct DFT evaluation of negatively charged or highly π-delocalized systems is intrinsically problematic. Single ionized (anionic) forms of β-diketones combine both these issues. In this article, we have summarized and analyzed the experimental and theoretical spectral dataset for anionic forms of different substituted perfluorinated β-diketones that were obtained by our team during the past few years. Using previously collected experimental data, spectra of anion of diketones containing phenol, 2-furoyl, 2-thiophen, 2-selenophen, 2-tellorphe, 2-pyridin, 2-naphthyl, and N-methyl-pyrrole substituted rings were considered and chosen for the simulation. The X3LYP density functional demonstrates good results in both ultraviolet and visible parts of the diketones spectra. Minnesota family show predictable ability within the reasonable errors. The linear correlation between the Hartree–Fock exchange and the errors of estimation has been observed. Density functionals with a low contribution of HF weight (0–30%) provide better prediction accuracy.

Methods

Quantum chemistry calculations were performed under eighteen density functionals (Slater, Becke, OPTX, LYP, PW91C, BPE0, B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP, X3LYP, TPSS, revTPSS, TPSSh, M06-L, M06, M06-2X, M06-HF, M11-L, MN15-L), paired with the SMD solvation model implemented in GAMESS US program package. Def2-SVP basis set functions were applied to light atoms, and CRENBL effective core potential was used to Tellurium.