Dynamical Correlation Effects on Photoisomerization: Ab Initio Multiple Spawning Dynamics with MS-CASPT2 for a Model trans-Protonated Schiff Base

We investigate the photoisomerization of a model retinal protonated Schiff base (trans-PSB3) using ab initio multiple spawning (AIMS) based on multistate second order perturbation theory (MSPT2). Discrepancies between the photodynamical mechanism computed with three-root state-averaged complete active space self-consistent field (SA-3-CASSCF, which does not include dynamic electron correlation effects) and MSPT2 show that dynamic correlation is critical in this photoisomerization reaction. Furthermore, we show that the photodynamics of trans-PSB3 is not well-described by predictions based on minimum energy conical intersections (MECIs) or minimum energy conical intersection (CI) seam paths. Instead, most of the CIs involved in the photoisomerization are far from MECIs and minimum energy CI seam paths. Thus, both dynamical nuclear effects and dynamic electron correlation are critical to understanding the photochemical mechanism.