Quantum Chemistry of Excited States in Polyhedral Boranes

Abstract

In this Chapter we describe the electronic structure of ground states and excited states of the two isomers of octadecaborane (22), anti- and syn-B18H22, and the new derivative of anti-B18H22, the polyhedral substituted borane 4,4′-(HS)2-anti-B18H20. A theoretical interpretation is given on the fluorescence of the anti-B18H22 isomer, and the non-radiative decay of the syn-B18H22 isomer, an unsolved problem since 1962. For the new derivative of anti-B18H22, substitution of hydrogen atoms in positions 4 and 4′ by SH groups allows the tuning of the photophysical properties in 4,4′-(HS)2-anti-B18H20, facilitating intersystem crossing from the excited singlet state to the triplet state.