Ab initio study on one-way photoisomerization of the maleic acid and fumaric acid anion radical system as a model system of their esters.

Potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the maleic acid anion radical (MA-*: cis isomer)/fumaric acid anion radical (FA-*: trans isomer) system as a model system of their esters have been studied in detail using CASSCF method. The results suggest the following: The photoisomerization is initiated with the H-C-C-H dihedral angle distortion [hydrogen out of plain (HOOP) motion] on the D1 PES. The C-C-C-C dihedral angle distortion occurs on the D0 PES after the deactivation from D1 to D0. A large fraction of the net motion along the isomerization coordinate occurs on the D0 PES. The D0 state is responsible for the one-way nature of the photoisomerization.