Theoretical invstigations of the electronic states of porphyrins. I. Basis set development and predicted spectrum of pyrrole

A new minimum basis set was developed for use in computing excitation energies of large molecules. It is particularly suited to calculating ionization potentials and Rydberg transitions. Pyrrole excitation energies and oscillator strengths calculated with this basis set are compared to larger basis set ab initio and semiempirical results. The 6‐eV band in the experimental spectrum is predicted to be the result of three Rydberg absorptions, with no underlying (π, π*) absorption. The calculations also provide an explanation for the observed NH stretch in the 6‐eV region.