Weiguo Sun

The alkaline earth dimer cations (Be2 +, Mg2 +, Ca2 +, Sr2 +, and Ba2 +). Coupled cluster and full configuration interaction studies†

Although all of the neutral alkaline earth dimers have been studied experimentally, only for the beryllium and strontium systems have the diatomic radical cations been subjected to modern spectroscopic techniques. In the present research, both coupled cluster and full configuration interaction methods were used to describe the M2 + systems. Basis sets as large as aug-cc-pCV5Z were chosen. For both Be2 + and Sr2 + agreement with the experiments is outstanding. Final predictions for the unknown dissociation energies are 10,651 (Mg2 +), 9605 (Ca2 +), and 8980 cm−1 (Ba2 +). The M2 + dissociation energies decrease monotonically going down the periodic except for the Sr2 + - Ba2 + pair. The unknown bond distances re are 3.015 (Mg2 +), 3.814 (Ca2 +), 4.194 (Sr2 +), and 4.587 Å (Ba2 +).

Studies on the P-branch spectral lines of rovibrational transitions of diatomic system.

An analytical formula is used to predict the accurate P-branch spectral lines of rovibrational transitions for diatomic systems. The formula is derived from elementary expression of molecular total energy by taking multiple spectral differences. It is not only reproduces the known experimental transition lines by using a group of fifteen known experimental transition data, but also predicts the accurate spectral lines that may not be available experimentally. The P-branch emission spectra of the (0,1), (0,2) and (0,3) bands of the B(2)∑(+)→X(2)∑(+) system in the (12)C(17)O(+) molecular ion are studied, and correct values of the unknown spectral lines up to J=80.5 for each band are predicted using the formula.

Extreme Metal Carbonyl Back Bonding in Cyclopentadienylthorium Carbonyls Generates Bridging C2O2 Ligands by Carbonyl Coupling

Laboratory studies of the interaction of carbon monoxide with organoactinides result in the formation of isolable complexes such as Cp3UCO derivatives (Cp = cyclopentadienyl) as well as coupling reactions to give derivatives of the oligomeric anions C(n)O(n)(2-) (n = 2, 3, 4). To gain some insight into actinide carbonyl chemistry, binuclear cyclopentadienylthorium carbonyls Cp2Th2(CO)n (n = 2 to 5) as model compounds have been investigated using density functional theory. The most favorable such structures in terms of energy and thermochemistry are the tricarbonyl Cp2Th2(η(2)-μ-CO)3 having three four-electron donor bridging carbonyl groups and the tetracarbonyl Cp2Th2(η(4)-μ-C2O2)(η(2)-μ-CO)2 having not only two four-electron donor bridging carbonyl groups but also a bridging ethynediolate ligand formed by coupling two CO groups through C-C bond formation. The bridging infrared ν(CO) frequencies ranging from 1140 to 1560 cm(-1) in these Cp2Th2(CO)n (n = 3, 4) derivatives indicate extremely strong Th→CO back bonding in these structures, corresponding to formally dianionic CO(2-) and C2O2(2-) ligands and the favorable +4 thorium oxidation state. A characteristic of the Cp2Th2(η(2)-μ-CO)3 and Cp2Th2(η(4)-μ-C2O2)(η(2)-μ-CO)2 structures is their ability to add terminal CO groups, preferably to the thorium atom bonded to the fewest oxygen atoms. These terminal CO groups exhibit ν(CO) frequencies in a similar range as terminal CO groups in d-block metal carbonyls. However, these terminal CO groups are relatively weakly bonded to the thorium atoms as indicated by predicted CO dissociation energies of 14 kcal/mol for Cp2Th2(CO)5. Two low energy structures for the dicarbonyl Cp2Th2(CO)2 are found with two separate four-electron donor bridging CO groups and relatively short Th-Th distances of 3.3 to 3.4 Å suggesting formal single bonds and +3 thorium formal oxidation states. However, a QTAIM analysis of this formal Th-Th bond does not reveal a bond critical point thus suggesting a multicenter bonding model involving the bridging CO groups.

Studies on full vibrational spectra and dissociation energies of some diatomic molecular electronic states using algebraic approaches

An algebraic energy method (AEM) is suggested as an alternative theoretical approach to generate molecular dissociation energy D e s. The AEM is used to evaluate accurate full vibrational energy spectra {E υ} and D e in this study for 14 diatomic electronic states of Li2, Na2, Rb2, K2 and Sr2 molecules: the 11Π g , , 23Πg, 13Δg and 23Δg states of Li2; the , , 13Δg and 23Δgstates of Na2; the and states of K2; the and 11Πg states of Rb2 and the state of Sr2 molecule. Studies show that present vibrational energies in the full spectrum {E υ} are accurate, and the AEM D e have an accuracy better than one percent when they are compared with experimental dissociation energies. The AEM can generate reliable D e s for electronic states whose molecular dissociation energies may be difficult to obtain experimentally and/or theoretically.

A variational algebraic method used to study the full vibrational spectra and dissociation energies of some specific diatomic systems

The algebraic method (AM) proposed by Sun et al. is improved to be a variational AM (VAM) to offset the possible experimental errors and to adapt to the individual energy expansion nature of different molecular systems. The VAM is used to study the full vibrational spectra {Eυ} and the dissociation energies De of (4)HeH(+)-X(1)Σ(+), (7)Li2-1(3)Δg,Na2-C(1)Πu,NaK-7(1)Π, Cs2-B(1)Πu and (79)Br2-β1g((3)P2) diatomic electronic states. The results not only precisely reproduce all known experimental vibrational energies, but also predict correct dissociation energies and all unknown high-lying levels that may not be given by the original AM or other numerical methods or experimental methods. The analyses and the skill suggested here might be useful for other numerical simulations and theoretical fittings using known data that may carry inevitable errors.

Diatomic silylynes, germylynes, stannylynes, and plumbylynes: structures, dipole moments, dissociation energies, and quartet-doublet gaps of EH and EX (E = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb; X = F, Cl, Br, I).

Systematic theoretical studies of the carbyne and halocarbyne analogues E-H and E-X (E = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb; X = F, Cl, Br, I) were carried out with ab initio coupled-cluster methods using very large basis sets. The (2)Π state is the ground electronic state for all these compounds. The quartet-doublet energy separations, equilibrium distances, and dissociation energies for these species are predicted. The quartet-doublet splittings fall in the order EF > ECl > EBr > EI > EH for a given metal E; and PbX > GeX > SnX > SiX for the same halogen atom X. The dipole moments span a large range, from 0.08 debye (GeH) to 3.58 debye (PbCl). The dissociation energies range from 1.84 eV (PbH) to 6.15 eV (SiF).

Studies on the full vibrational spectra and molecular dissociation energies for some diatomic electronic states

A parameter-free formula is suggested to evaluate the molecular dissociation energy of a stable diatomic electronic system. The full vibrational spectra (E(upsilon)(AM)) and theoretical dissociation energies D(e)(AM) are studied using the algebraic method (AM) and the suggested analytical formula for some electronic states of Li(2), K(2), Na(2), and Sr(2) molecules which have regular (Morse-like) potentials. Both the (E(upsilon)(AM)) and the calculated D(e)(AM) agree excellently with known experimental values for each electronic state.

A new type of sandwich compound: homoleptic bis(trimethylenemethane) complexes of the first row transition metals

The metal carbonyl complexes [η4-(CH2)3C]Fe(CO)3 and [η4-(CH2)3C]Cr(CO)4 have been synthesized containing the umbrella-shaped trimethylenemethane ligand. The prospect of using this ligand in the metal sandwich complexes [(CH2)3C]2M (M = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) has now been investigated by density functional theory. The lowest energy structures of such complexes have the metal atom sandwiched between two tetrahapto trimethylenemethane ligands. Singlet spin state structures are strongly preferred for the titanium and nickel derivatives and doublet spin state structures for the vanadium and cobalt derivatives. Similarly, the triplet spin state is preferred for the iron derivative by more than 11 kcal mol−1. The preferred spin states for the chromium and manganese derivatives depend on the functional used for the structure optimization. Thus the B3LYP and B3LYP* methods predict the higher spin states, namely triplet for chromium and quartet for manganese. However, the BP86 method predicts the lower spin states of singlet for chromium and doublet for manganese. The higher spin state structures for the late transition metal derivatives, namely quintet [(CH2)3C]2Fe, quartet [(CH2)3C]2Co, and triplet [(CH2)3C]2Ni, have trihapto rather than tetrahapto trimethylenemethane ligands. The frontier molecular orbitals in the singlet [(CH2)3C]2M derivatives (M = Ti, Ni) suggest strong metal–ligand σ and π bonding but insignificant metal–ligand δ bonding.

Is there an entrance complex for the F+NH3 reaction?

Challenges associated with the theoretical and experimental kinetics of the F+NH(3)→HF+NH(2) reaction suggest the need for a more-precise potential surface. We have investigated the reactants and the products of the reaction, as well as the transition state and two complexes, with rather rigorous ab initio methods. The F·····NH(3) complex existing in the entrance valley is predicted to lie 13.7 kcal mol(-1) below the reactants. A small classical barrier of 2.0 kcal mol(-1) separates this entrance well from products HF+NH(2). These results explain the observation by Persky of unprecedented inverse temperature dependence for the F+NH(3) rate constants. The strong hydrogen-bonded complex FH·····NH(2) exists in the exit valley, and with a binding energy of 9.9 kcal mol(-1) relative to separated products. The vibrational frequencies of all stationary points are predicted with the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ method.

New Potential Energy Surface Features for the Li + HF → LiF + H Reaction

The existing potential energy surfaces for the Li + HF system have been challenged by the experiments of Loesch, Stienkemeier, and co-workers. Here a very accurate potential energy surface has been obtained with rather rigorous theoretical methods. Methods up to full CCSDT have been pursued with basis sets as large as core correlated quintuple ζ. Reported here are the reactants, products, two transition states, and three intermediate complexes for this reaction. These reveal one previously undiscovered equilibrium geometry. The stationary point relative energies are very sensitive to level of theory. The reaction has a classical endothermicity of 2.6 kcal mol(-1). The complex Li···HF in the entrance valley lies 6.1 kcal/mol below the reactants. The expected transition state Li···H···F is bent with an angle of 72.2° and lies 4.5 kcal/mol above the reactants. The latter predicted classical barrier should be no more than one kcal/mol above the exact barrier. Not one but two product complexes lie 1.6 and 2.2 kcal/mol above reactants, respectively. Between the two product complexes, a second transition state, very broad, is found. The vibrational frequencies and zero-point vibrational energies (ZPVE) of all stationary points are reported, and significantly affect the relative energies.