Asymmetric Planar-to-Dewar Isomerisation in BN-Doped Naphthalene: Mechanistic Implications for Molecular Solar Thermal Storage

TL;DR

This study investigates how BN doping affects the isomerisation pathway of azaboranaphthalene, with implications for molecular solar thermal energy storage, revealing pathway asymmetry and potential for improved Dewar formation through substitution.

Contribution

It provides detailed mechanistic insights into BN-doped naphthalene's isomerisation pathway and explores substitution effects to enhance Dewar formation for solar energy storage.

Findings

BN doping causes pathway asymmetry with a metastable intermediate.

Transition state resembles an S0/S1 conical intersection, indicating vibrational activation.

Substituents can red shift S1 energies and improve Dewar formation.

Abstract

The planar to Dewar valence isomerisation of 4a,8a-azaboranaphthalene (BN$_\text{Naph}$), a $\pi$ extended BN-doped analogue of azaborine, is investigated to evaluate how BN incorporation reshapes the minimum energy pathway on the ground state. This process is, for example, relevant in the context of molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage, where absorbed sunlight is converted into chemical energy through reversible photoisomerisation. Structures and vertical excitations were computed using DFT and TD-DFT, minimum energy pathways were mapped with nudged elastic band (NEB) calculations, and pathway energetics were refined with state averaged XMS-CASPT2. In addition, azaborine was examined as a comparison system, with particular emphasis on whether substituents at nitrogen and boron promote Dewar formation. The effect of BN doping on the system was analysed in detail. Compared with the carbon analogue, the conversion pathway becomes asymmetric with a metastable intermediate stabilized by a transient boron to carbon contact. The transition structure closely resembles an S$_0$/S$_1$ conical intersection, which is consistent with a vibrationally activated nonradiative funnel. For tuning MOST properties, screening of single substituents across the whole molecule reveals predominantly red shifted S$_1$ energies together with increased oscillator strengths and indicates that appropriate substitution can improve Dewar formation in azaborine derivatives.