Molecular orbital calculations on transition metal complexes : XX. The π-cyclopentadienyl-π-benzene complexes of chromium and manganese

INDO SCF MO calculations are reported for the complexes (C₅H₅)M(C₆H₆) (M = Cr and Mn) and for the corresponding cations. A ²A₁ ground state is correctly predicted for the neutral Cr system, and other experimental quantities are satisfactorily reproduced. The dominantly metal d-levels yield the H^core sequence e₂ < a₁ < _e1 and the principal interactions were found to be those between the metal e₁ level and the π-orbitals of the C₅H₅ ligand, and between the metal e₂ level and the ligand C₆H₆ π-orbitals. From the state energies of the formally 3d⁵ species estimates were made of the one-electron 3d splittings in the ligand field model, and comparisons made with similar results for M(C₅H₅)₂, M(C₆H₆)₂, and (C₅H₅)M(C₇H₇) systems: these indicated the general validity of the bonding scheme in which the extent of the metal—ligand interaction via the e₁ and e₂ 3d levels varied systematically with the sizes of the ligand rings.