Sulfur-Containing Radical Anions Formed by Photolysis of Thiosulfate: Quantum-Chemical Analysis

The photochemistry of sodium thiosulfate (S2O3 2–) in aqueous solutions is rather complicated. Several sulfur-containing radical anions are formed upon photoexcitation. Any of them are rather common (SO3•–, SO2 •–, and SO5 •–); others are rare (S2O3 •–, •S4O6 3–, and S•–) or never documented (S2O5 •–). In order to support the identification of intermediate radical anions, quantum-chemical (QMquantum mechanical) calculations of the geometric and electronic structures of S2O3 •–, S2O5 •–, and •S4O6 3– were performed. Two different approaches, time-dependent density functional theory and complete active space self-consistent field, were applied to identify the method optimal for the reproduction of the experimental electronic absorption spectra. Several of the most commonly used functionals were considered. The best agreement with the experimentally observed spectra of reference compounds (common sulfur-containing anions and radical anions) was achieved for the WB97X-D3 functional. Using this approach, satisfactory agreement between experimental and calculated spectra of S2O3 •–, S2O5 •–, and •S4O6 3– was achieved. It was shown that S2O5 •– and •S4O6 3– can exist in two isomeric forms with different spectral properties. These isomers are S2O3O2 •–; SO3SO2 •– for the case of S2O5 •– and (S2O3)2 •3–; (S3O3 2–...SO3 •–) for the case of •S4O6 3–.