By combining one-photon ultraviolet excitation with X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the nitrogen K-edge with advanced quantum-chemical calculations, researchers unveiled the fascinating and mysterious electronic dynamics of pyrazine at conical intersections. Here, electrons and nuclei dance in harmony until water steps in to disrupt the rhythm.
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Fig. 1: Electronic dynamics of pyrazine at conical intersections.
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Authors and Affiliations
Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Division of Life Science, and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Xinwen Ou, Sheng-Yi Yang, Xinmeng Chen & Ben Zhong Tang
Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Lianrui Hu
School of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen), Guangdong, China
Ben Zhong Tang
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Xinwen Ou
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Ou, X., Yang, SY., Chen, X. et al. Snooping on the conical intersection. Nat Rev Chem (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-025-00699-2
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Published:10 March 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-025-00699-2
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