Heptazine, Cyclazine, and Related Compounds: Chemically-Accurate Estimates of the Inverted Singlet-Triplet Gap

Abstract

Molecules that violate Hund's rule and exhibit an inverted gap between the lowest singlet $S_1$ and triplet $T_1$ excited states have attracted considerable attention due to their potential applications in optoelectronics. Amongst these molecules, the triangular-shaped heptazine, and its derivatives, have been in the limelight. However, conflicting reports have arisen regarding the relative energies of $S_1$ and $T_1$. Here, we employ highly accurate levels of theory, such as CC3, to not only resolve the debate concerning the sign but also quantify the magnitude of the $S_1$-$T_1$ gap. We also determine the 0-0 energies to evaluate the significance of the vertical approximation. In addition, we compute reference $S_1$-$T_1$ gaps for a series of 10 related molecules. This enables us to benchmark lower-order methods for future applications on larger systems within the same family of compounds. This contribution can serve as a reliable foundation for the design of triangular-shaped molecules with enhanced photophysical properties.