Correlation, effects singlet-triplet separation

ANO basis set used gives a separation in good agreement with, but smaller than, the value deduced from a combination of theory and experiment. From the convergence of the result with expansion of the ANO basis set, it is estimated that the valence limit is about 9.05 + O.lkcal/mole. The remaining discrepancy with experiment is probably mostly due to core-valence correlation effects. However, as the valence correlation treatment is nearly exact, finer effects such as Bom-Oppenheimer breakdown and relativity must also be considered. While FCI calculations have shown that a very high level of correlation treatment is required for an accurate estimate of the CV contribution to the separation, theoretical calculations indicate that CV correlation will increase the separation by at most 0.35 kcal/mole (see later discussion). Therefore, it is now possible to achieve an accuracy of considerably better than one kcal/mole in the singlet-triplet separation in methylene. 

Since it is the exchange interaction that determines to a large extent the energy separation of the multiplet states to first order, the physical basis for the triplet preference thus vanishes. In that case, other electron correlation effects tend to stabilize the singlet selectively. 

Of particular relevance to the present discussion is the observation that the CSS, which is a biradical cation, is formed with essentially pure triplet spin correlation. For energetic reasons, this triplet radical pair cannot recombine to form the MLCT state and can only form the singlet ground state. Therefore, direct recombination is spin forbidden. Moreover, because the radical pair which constitute the CSS product can separate only to a limited distance, essentially every CSS recombination event is between the same geminate radical pair—in other words, every reduced acceptor is ultimately oxidized by the donor radical cation that was formed from the same initial photochemical event. The spin behavior of the DC A triad CSS can be effectively explained by application of the relaxation mechanism of Hayashi and Nagakura. ... 

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