The first high level ab initio quantum-chemical calculations of potential energy surfaces (PESs) for low-lying singlet excited states of norbornadiene in the gas phase are presented. The optimization of the stationary points (minima and conical intersections) and the recalculation of the energies were performed using the multireference configuration interaction with singles (MR-CIS) and the multiconfigurational second-order perturbation (CASPT2) methods, respectively. It was shown that the crossing between valence V2 and Rydberg R1 states close to the Franck-Condon (FC) point permits an easy population switch between these states. Also, a new deactivation path in which the doubly excited state with (π3)(2) configuration (DE) has a prominent role in photodeactivation from the R1 state due to the R1/DE and the DE/V1 conical intersections very close to the R1 and DE minima, respectively, was proposed. Subsequent deactivation from the V1 to the ground state goes through an Olivucci-Robb-type conical intersection that adopts a rhombic distorted geometry. The deactivation path has negligible barriers, thereby making ultrafast radiationless decay to the ground state possible.
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