Theoretical study of the hydrogen atom transfer in the heterodimer indole–ammonia and comparison with experimental results.

Ab initio calculations on the heterodimer C[sub 8]H[sub 6]NH...NH[sub 3] are carried out for its ground, the excited πσ[sup *], and the ground cationic electronic states, enabling the description of hydrogen or proton transfer, respectively. Two-dimensional quantum-dynamical computations on the πσ[sup *] potential surface help one to understand the mechanism and the time scale of the hydrogen transfer. Subsequent decay processes are discussed depending on the vibrational excitation of the ammonium constituent. Finally, the theoretical results obtained are used for the interpretation of the time-dependent signals observed in femtosecond pump–probe experiments. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]