Approximate force constant calculations for cis-L2M(CO)4 species

A new procedure based on the criterion of maximum interaction between coupled fundamental vibrational modes has been developed to solve the energy factored force field of cis-L₂M(CO)₄ species. The results for complexes containing a wide range of metal-ligand combinations are compared with the force constants obtained by the Cotton-Kraihanzel and Jernigan methods. The CO stretching frequencies of isotopically-substituted cis-I₂Fe(CO)₄ species have been calculated as a check on the method.