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We present an implementation of the relativistic ionization-potential (IP) equation-of-motion coupled-cluster (EOMCC) with up to 3-hole–2-particle (3h2p) excitations that makes use of the molecular mean-field exact two-component framework and the full Dirac–Coulomb–Breit Hamiltonian. The closed-shell nature of the reference state in an X2C-IP-EOMCC calculation allows for accurate predictions of spin–orbit splittings in open-shell molecules without breaking degeneracies, as would occur in an excitation-energy EOMCC calculation carried out directly on an unrestricted open-shell reference. We apply X2C-IP-EOMCC to the ground and first excited states of the HCCX+ (X = Cl, Br, I) cations, where it is demonstrated that a large basis set (i.e., quadruple-zeta quality) and 3h2p correlation effects are necessary for accurate absolute energetics. The maximum error in calculated adiabatic IPs is on the order of 0.1 eV, whereas spin–orbit splittings themselves are accurate to ≈0.01 eV, as compared to experimentally obtained values. 

We recently proposed a semi-stochastic approach to converging high-level coupled-cluster (CC) energetics, such as those obtained in the CC calculations with singles, doubles, and triples (CCSDT), in which the deterministic CC(P;Q) framework is merged with the stochastic configuration interaction Quantum Monte Carlo propagations [J. E. Deustua, J. Shen, and P. Piecuch, Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 223003 (2017)]. In this work, we investigate the ability of the semi-stochastic CC(P;Q) methodology to recover the CCSDT energies of the lowest singlet and triplet states and the corresponding singlet–triplet gaps of biradical systems using methylene, (HFH)−, cyclobutadiene, cyclopentadienyl cation, and trimethylenemethane as examples. 

The high-lying vibrational states of the magnesium dimer (Mg 2 ), which has been recognized as an important system in studies of ultracold and collisional phenomena, have eluded experimental characterization for half a century. Until now, only the first 14 vibrational states of Mg 2 have been experimentally resolved, although it has been suggested that the ground-state potential may support five additional levels. Here, we present highly accurate ab initio potential energy curves based on state-of-the-art coupled-cluster and full configuration interaction computations for the ground and excited electronic states involved in the experimental investigations of Mg 2 . Our ground-state potential unambiguously confirms the existence of 19 vibrational levels, with ~1 cm −1 root mean square deviation between the calculated rovibrational term values and the available experimental and experimentally derived data. Our computations reproduce the latest laser-induced fluorescence spectrum and provide guidance for the experimental detection of the previously unresolved vibrational levels. 

The significance of solvent structural factors in the excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) reactions of Schiff bases with alcohols is reported here. We use the super photobase FR0 -SB and a series of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohol solvents to illustrate the steric issues associated with solvent to photobase proton transfer. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence data show that ESPT occurs readily for primary alcohols, with a probability proportional to the relative –OH concentration. For secondary alcohols, ESPT is greatly diminished, consistent with the barrier heights obtained using quantum chemistry calculations. ESPT is not observed in the tertiary alcohol. We explain ESPT using a model involving an intermediate hydrogen-bonded complex where the proton is “shared” by the Schiff base and the alcohol. The formation of this complex depends on the ability of the alcohol solvent to achieve spatial proximity to and alignment with the FR0 -SB* imine lone pair stabilized by the solvent environment.