The Sudden‐Polarization Effect and its Role in the Ultrafast Photochemistry of Ethene

Abstract

Surprisingly polar: The single-sided scissoring-induced sudden-polarization effect in D2d ethene is first order (see picture). The important role of this coordinate was until now overlooked, although it was known for a long time that each geometrical distortion that leads to a breakage of the D2d symmetry results in a charge separation.