Spin-orbit ab initio investigation of the photolysis of o-, m-, and p-bromotoluene

The photodissociations of o-, m-, and p-bromotoluene were investigated by ab initio and spin-orbit ab initio calculations. The possible photodissociation mechanisms at 266 and 193 nm were clarified by multistate second order multiconfigurational perturbation theory (MS-CASPT2) calculated potential energy curves, vertical excitation energies, and oscillator strengths of low-lying states. The dissociation products with spin-orbit-coupled states of Br*(P-2(1/2)) and Br(P-2(3/2)) were identified by the MS-CASPT2 method in conjunction with spin-orbit interaction through complete active space state interaction (MS-CASPT2/CASSI-SO) calculations. The effects of methyl rotation and substituent on the photodissociation mechanism were discussed. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.