Multiconfigurational Calculations and Photodynamics Describe Norbornadiene Photochemistry

[Image: see text] Storing solar energy is a vital component of using renewable energy sources to meet the growing demands of the global energy economy. Molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage is a promising means to store solar energy with on-demand energy release. The light-induced isomerization reaction of norbornadiene (NBD) to quadricyclane (QC) is of great interest because of the generally high energy storage density (0.97 MJ kg(–1)) and long thermal reversion lifetime (t(1/2,300K) = 8346 years). However, the mechanistic details of the ultrafast excited-state [2 + 2]-cycloaddition are largely unknown due to the limitations of experimental techniques in resolving accurate excited-state molecular structures. We now present a full computational study on the excited-state deactivation mechanism of NBD and its dimethyl dicyano derivative (DMDCNBD) in the gas phase. Our multiconfigurational calculations and nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations have enumerated the possible pathways with 557 S(2) trajectories of NBD for 500 fs and 492 S(1) trajectories of DMDCNBD for 800 fs. The simulations predicted the S(2) and S(1) lifetimes of NBD (62 and 221 fs, respectively) and the S(1) lifetime of DMDCNBD (190 fs). The predicted quantum yields of QC and DCQC are 10 and 43%, respectively. Our simulations also show the mechanisms of forming other possible reaction products and their quantum yields.