Theoretical investigation of Jahn–Teller and pseudo-Jahn–Teller coupling effects on the photoelectron spectrum of allene

Abstract

The valence photoelectron spectrum of allene (C₃H₄) pertinent to the òE/B̃ ²B₂ interacting electronic manifold of the corresponding cation (C₃H₄⁺) is theoretically calculated and compared with the most recent high resolution He I excited experimental recording of Baltzer et al.[Chem. Phys. 196, 551 (1995)]. A model diabatic Hamiltonian within the linear vibronic coupling scheme and ab initio calculated coupling parameters are employed in our investigations. While the resolved vibrational progressions in the photoelectron band at low energies can be attributed to the E⊗B Jahn–Teller activity within the òE electronic manifold, the diffuse structure in the photoelectron band at high energies is found to emerge from the mixing of the òE electronic manifold with the B̃²B₂ electronic state via degenerate vibrational modes. The latter demonstrates the importance of the pseudo-Jahn–Teller type of interactions in the photoelectron spectrum of allene.