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It is demonstrated that a double hybrid density functional approximation, ωB88PTPSS, that incorporates equipartition of density functional theory and the non-local correlation, however with a meta-generalized gradient approximation correlation functional, as well as with the range-separated exchange of ωB2PLYP, provides accurate excitation energies for conventional systems, as well as correct prescription of negative singlet–triplet gaps for non-conventional systems with inverted gaps, without any necessity for parametric scaling of the same-spin and opposite-spin non-local correlation energies. Examined over “safe” excitations of the QUESTDB set, ωB88PTPSS performs quite well for open-shell systems, correctly and fairly accurately [relative to equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) reference] predicts negative gaps for 50 systems with inverted singlet–triplet gaps, and is one of the leading performers for intramolecular charge-transfer excitations and achieves near-second-order approximate coupled cluster (CC2) and second-order algebraic diagrammatic construction quality for the Q1 and Q2 subsets. Subsequently, we tested ωB88PTPSS on two sets of real-life examples from recent computational chemistry literature–the low energy bands of chlorophyll a (Chl a) and a set of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) systems. For Chl a, ωB88PTPSS qualitatively and quantitatively achieves DLPNO-STEOM-CCSD-level performance and provides excellent agreement with experiment. For TADF systems, ωB88PTPSS agrees quite well with spin-component-scaled CC2 (SCS-CC2) excitation energies, as well as experimental values, for the gaps between the S1 and T1 excited states. 

Abstract We report an unusual photochromic behavior of 4,4′‐disubstituted‐2,2′‐bipyridine. It was found that in the presence of a SO₃source and HCl, 2,2′‐bipyridine‐4,4′‐dibutyl ester undergoes a color change from yellow to magenta in solution with maximum absorbance at 545 nm upon irradiation with 395 nm light. The photochromism is thermally reversible in solution. Different from the known bipyridine‐based photoswitching pathways, the photo response does not involve any metal which form colored complexes or the formation of colored free radical cations like the photo‐reduction of viologens. A combination of experimental and computational analysis was used to probe the mechanism. The results suggest the colored species to be a complex formed between N‐oxide of the 2,2′‐bipyridine‐4,4′‐dibutyl ester and SO₂; the N‐oxide and SO₂are formed from photoactivated oxidation of the bipyridine with SO₃serving as the oxygen source. This complex represents a new addition to the library of photoswitches that is easy to synthesize, reversible in solution, and of high fatigue resistance, making it a promising candidate for applications in photo‐switchable materials and SO₃detection. We also demonstrated experimentally similar photochromic behaviors with 2,2’‐bipyridine‐containing polymers.