Isolated Dimers Versus Solid-State Dimers of N-Heteropolycycles: Matrix-Isolation Spectroscopy in Concert with Quantum Chemistry.

In this work, matrix isolation spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations are used together to analyse the structure and properties of weakly bound dimers of the two isomers benzo[a]acridine and benzo[c]acridine. Our measured experimental electronic absorbance spectra agree with simulated spectra calculated for the equilibrium structures of the dimers in gas-phase, but in contrast, disagree with the simulated spectra calculated for the structures obtained by optimising the experimental solid-state structures. This highlights the sensitivity of the electronic excitations with respect to the dimer structures. The comparison between the solid-state and gas-phase dimers shows how far the intermolecular interactions could change the geometric and electronic structure in a disordered bulk material or at device interfaces, imposing consequences for exciton and charge mobility and other material properties.