Does CH prefer a C2v rather than a Cs structure?

The closely related C_s ( 1 ) and C_2v ( 3 ) structures of CH have been reinvestigated at many ab initio levels using MP2/6-31G** and MP2/6-311 + + G(2df, 2pd) geometries. The largest basis sets employed were 6-311G(3df, 2p), 6-311 + + G(3df, 3pd), and the Dunning “correlation consistent” polarized triple-split valence basis set (cc-pVTZ). Electron correlation was probed at the MP4 level, but the QCISD method was also used with the largest basis sets. While electron correlation favors 3 over 1 by about 2 kcal/mol, the correlated relative energies with all basis sets employed range from 0.36–1.03 kcal/mol in favor of 1 . The best estimate of this difference, 0.86 kcal/mol, is essentially identical with the (scaled) zero-point energy difference, 0.84 kcal/mol, favoring 3 over 1 . These results indicate that 1 and 3 have almost exactly the same energy at 0 K. Our best value for the dissociation energy of CH is 42.0 kcal/mol [QCISD(T)/6-311 + + G(3df, 3pd)//MP2(fu)/6-311 + + G(2df, 2pd), corrected to 298 K], which agrees very well with the experimental value. © 1992 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Theoretical study of aromaticity in small hydrogen and metal cation clusters X (X=H,Li, Na,K, and Cu)

Five cation clusters X (X=H, Li, Na, K, and Cu) with two possible isomers, i.e., regular trigonal structure (D_3h) and linear structure (D_∞h), have been investigated using four methods: B3LYP, B3PW91, MP2, CCSD(T) and basis set 6‐311+G(3df). The calculations show that only the regular trigonal structure (D_3h) is stable. The related neutral clusters X₃Cl (X=H, Li, Na, K, and Cu) are also investigated using two methods: B3LYP, MP2, and basis set 6‐311+G(3df). For H₃Cl species, there is no a stable structure to be found. For other four X₃Cl (X=Li, Na, K, and Cu) species, there are two stable isomers, for which the bidentate structures (C_2v‐1) [see Fig. 1 (d)] are global minima. According to the general criteria for aromaticity including resonance energy (RE) and nucleus‐independent chemical shift (NICS), the five trigonal isomers exhibit a higher degree of aromaticity. Molecular orbital analysis reveals that the five trigonal X(X=H, Li, Na, K, and Cu) isomers possess only σ‐aromaticity originating from s orbitals. For the Cu ring the d orbitals do not play a significant role in the electron delocalization effects. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Theoretical study of the gas‐phase SN2 reactions of X− with CH3OY (X,Y = Cl,Br, I)

The gas‐phase nucleophilic substitution reactions at saturated oxygen X^? + CH₃OY (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) have been investigated at the level of CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(2df,p)//B3LYP/6‐311+G(2df,p). The calculated results indicate that X^? preferably attacks oxygen atom of CH₃OY via a S_N2 pathway. The central barriers and overall barriers are respectively in good agreement with both the predictions of Marcus equation and its modification, respectively. Central barrier heights (ΔH and ΔH) correlate well with the charges (Q) of the leaving groups (Y), Wiberg bond orders (BO) and the elongation of the bonds (O? Y and O? X) in the transition structures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Polysila analogs of aromatic hydrocarbon ions: Structures and energies of Si3H3+, Si4H,and Si5H5−

Silicon analogs of aromatic monocyclic ions, (SiH) ( 4 ), (SiH) ( 5 ), and (SiH) ( 6 ) have been studied ab initio at MP 2(full)/6-31G *. The D_3h structure of Si₃H₃⁺ is the global minimum, whereas other two ions are nonplanar. The D_2d structure of (SiH) is less folded than the carbon analog and possesses a higher stabilization energy. Stabilization energies for the monocharged ions are diminished with respect to the corresponding carbons © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Carbodications. I. The structures and energies of C4H isomers

At high levels of ab initio theory (6-31G*//4-31G), the most stable C₄H isomer is indicated to be the nonplanar cyclobutadiene dication ( 1a ); the planar form, 1b , is indicated to be 7.5 kcal/mol less stable. The second most stable C₄H isomer, the methylenecyclopropene dication, is indicated to prefer the perpendicular ( 2a ) over the planar ( 2b ) arrangement by 7 kcal/mol. The “anti van't Hoff” cyclo-(HB)₂C?CH₂ system ( 4 ), isoelectronic with 2 , also prefers the perpendicular conformation ( 4a ), and retains the C?C double bond. The linear butatriene dication ( 3 ) is the least stable C₄H species investigated. The perpendicular (D_2d) arrangement ( 3a ), permitting double allyl cationlike conjugation, is preferred over the planar D_2h form ( 3b ) by 26 kcal/mol. The heat of formation of the most stable form of C₄H, 1a , is estimated to be 623–640 kcal/mol. This species should be thermodynamically stable toward dissociation into smaller charged fragments.     

Ab initio study of the reaction of CHO+ with H2O and NH3

An MP4(full,SDTQ)/6-311++G(d,p)//MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p) ab initio study was performed of the reactions of formyl and isoformyl cations with H₂O and NH₃, which play an important role in flame and interstellar chemistries. Two different confluent channels were located leading to CO+H₃O⁺/NH. The first one corresponds to the approach of the neutral molecule to the carbon atom of the cations. The second one leads to the direct proton transfer from the cations to the neutrals. At 900 K the separate products CO+H₃O⁺/NH are the most stable species along the Gibbs energy profiles for the processes. For the reaction with H₂O the reaction channel leading to HC(OH) (protonated formic acid) is disfavored with respect to the two CO+H₃O⁺ channels in agreement with the experimental evidence that H₃O⁺ is the major ion observed in hydrocarbon flames. According to our calculations, NH+H₂O are considerably more stable in Gibbs energy than NH₃+H₃O⁺;NH will predominate in the reaction zone when ammonia is added to CH₄+Ar diffusion flame, as experimentally observed. At 100 K the most stable structures are the intermediate complexes CO…HOH/HNH. Particularly the CO…HOH complex has a lifetime large enough to be detected and, therefore, could play a certain role in interstellar chemistry. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 1432–1443, 1999     

Bis[N-(trimethylsilyl)iminobenzoyl]phosphanide des Lithiums und Zinks – Synthese sowie NMR-spektroskopische,strukturelle und quantenchemische Untersuchungen

Acyl- and Alkylidenephosphanes. XXXV. Bis[ N -(trimethylsilyl)iminobenzoyl]phosphanides of Lithium and Zinc – Syntheses as well as NMR Spectroscopic, Structural, and Quantumchemical Studies From the reaction of bis(tetrahydrofuran)lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphanide with two equivalents of benzonitrile in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, the yellow dme complex ( 2 a ) of lithium bis[N-(trimethylsilyl)iminobenzoyl]phosphanide ( 2 ) was obtained in 69% yield. However, the intermediate {1-[N-lithium-N-(trimethylsilyl)amido]benzylidene}trimethylsilylphosphane ( 1 ), formed by an analogous 1 : 1 addition in diethyl ether, turned out to be unstable and as a consequence could be characterized by nmr spectroscopic methods only; attempts to isolate the compound failed, but small amounts of the neutral complex 2 b , with the ligands benzonitrile and tetrahydrofuran coordinated to lithium, precipitated. The reaction of compound 2 with zinc(II) chloride in diethyl ether gives the orange-red spiro-complex zinc bis{bis[N-(trimethylsilyl)iminobenzoyl]phosphanide} ( 3 ); this complex is also formed from bis[N-(trimethylsilyl)iminobenzoyl]phosphane ( 4 ), easily amenable by a lithium hydrogen exchange of 2 a with trifluoroacetic acid [18], and zinc bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide]. As derived from nmr spectroscopic studies and x-ray structure determinations, compounds 2 a {δ³¹P +63.3 ppm; P2₁/n; Z = 4; R₁ = 0.067}, 2 b {δ³¹P +63.3 ppm; P2₁/c; Z = 4; R₁ = 0.063}, 3 {δ³¹P +58.2 ppm; C2/c; Z = 4; R₁ = 0.037} and 4 {δ³¹P +58.1 ppm [18]} exist as cyclic 3-imino-2λ³σ²-phosphapropenylamides and -propenylamine, respectively, in solution as well as in the solid state. Unlike hydrogen derivative 4 the bis[N-(trimethylsilyl)iminobenzoyl]phosphanide fragments N,N′-coordinating either a lithium or a zinc cation are characterized by almost completely equalized bond lengths; typical mean distances and angles are: PC 180.3 and 178.7; CN 130.5 and 131.8; N–Si 175.3 and 179.3; N–Li 202.3; N–Zn 203.5 pm; CPC 108.8° and 110.5°; PCN 130.9° and 132.9°; CN–Li 113.0°, CN–Zn 117.4°; N–Li–N 104.6°; N–Zn–N 108.8°. Alterations in the shape of the six membered chelate rings, caused by an exchange of the 3-imino-2λ³σ²-phosphapropenylamide or related 2λ³σ²-phospha-1,3-dionate units for the corresponding phosphorus free ligands, are discussed in detail. The results of quantumchemical DFT-B3LYP calculations coincide very well with the experimentally obtained findings.     

Density functional study of S(N) 2 substitution reactions for CH(3) Cl + CX(1) X(2•-) (X(1) X(2) = HH, HF, HCl, HBr, HI, FF, ClCl, BrBr, and II)

A systematic investigation on the S_N2 displacement reactions of nine carbene radical anions toward the substrate CH₃Cl has been theoretically carried out using the popular density functional theory functional BHandHLYP level with different basis sets 6‐31+G (d, p)/relativistic effective core potential (RECP), 6‐311++G (d, p)/RECP, and aug‐cc‐pVTZ/RECP. The studied models are CX¹X^2?? + CH₃Cl → X²X¹CH₃C^? + Cl^?, with CX¹X^2?? = CH₂^??, CHF^??, CHCl^??, CHBr^??, CHI^??, CF₂^??, CCl₂^??, CBr₂^??, and CI₂^??. The main results are proposed as follows: (a) Based on natural bond orbital (NBO), proton affinity (PA), and ionization energy (IE) analysis, reactant CH₂^?? should be a strongest base among the anion‐containing species (CX¹X^2??) and so more favorable nucleophile. (b) Regardless of frontside attacking pathway or backside one, the S_N2 reaction starts at an identical precomplex whose formation with no barrier. (c) The back‐S_N2 pathway is much more preferred than the front‐S_N2 one in terms of the energy gaps [ΔE(front)?ΔE(back)], steric demand, NBO population analysis. Thus, the back‐S_N2 reaction was discussed in detail. On the one hand, based on the energy barriers (ΔE and ΔE) analysis, we have strongly affirmed that the stabilization of back attacking transition states (b‐TSs) presents increase in the order: b‐TS‐CI₂ < b‐TS‐CBr₂ < b‐TS‐CCl₂ < b‐TS‐CHI < b‐TS‐CHBr < b‐TS‐CHCl < b‐TS‐CF₂ < b‐TS‐CHF < b‐TS‐CH₂. On the other hand, depended on discussions of the correlations of ΔE with influence factors (PA, IE, bond order, and ΔE), we have explored how and to what extent they affect the reactions. Moreover, we have predicted that the less size of substitution (α‐atom) required for the gas‐phase reaction with α‐nucleophile is related to the α‐effect and estimated that the reaction with the stronger PA nucleophile, holding the lighter substituted atom, corresponds to the greater exothermicity given out from reactants to products. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2012     

Comparison of the Complexation of Open-Chain and Cyclic N2S2 Ligands with Cu+ and Cu2+

The complexation properties of the open-chain N₂S₂ ligands 1–4 are described and compared to those of analogous N₂S₂ macrocycles 5–7 . With Cu²⁺, the open-chain ligands give complexes with the stoichiometry CuL²⁺ and CuLOH⁺, the stabilities and absorption spectra of which have been determined. The ligand field exerted by these ligands is relatively constant and independent of the length of the chain. With Cu⁺, the species CuLH, CuLH²⁺, and CuL⁺ were identified and their stabilities measured. The redox potentials calculated from the equilibrium constants and measured by cyclic voltammetry agree and lie between 250 and 280 mV against SHE. The comparison between open-chain and cyclic ligands shows that (1) a macrocyclic effect is found for Cu²⁺ but not for Cu⁺, (2) the ligand-field strength is very different for the two types of ligands, and (3) the redox potentials span a larger interval for the macrocyclic than for the open-chain complexes.     

Gas‐phase intramolecular anion rearrangements of some trimethylsilyl‐containing systems revisited. A theoretical approach

Ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T)/6‐311++G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory have been carried out for three prototypical rearrangement processes of organosilicon anion systems. The first two are reactions of enolate ions which involve oxygen–silicon bond formation via three‐ and four‐membered states, respectively. The overall reactions are: The ΔG (reaction) values for the two processes are +175 and +51 kJ mol^?1, with maximum barriers (to the highest transition state) of +55 and +159 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The third studied process is the following: (CH₃O)C(?CH₂)Si(CH₃)₂CH → (CH₃)₂(C₂H₅)Si^? + CH₂CO, a process involving an S_Ni reaction between ‐CH and CH₃O‐ followed by silicon–carbon bond cleavage. The reaction is favourable [ΔG(reaction) = ?39 kJ mol^?1] with the barrier for the S_Ni process being 175 kJ mol^?1. The previous experimental and the current theoretical data are complementary and in agreement. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Remarkable Structure of Lithium Cyanide/Isocyanide

Electron correlation corrections have a considerable influence on the relative stabilities of lithium isocyanide ( 1 ), lithium cyanide ( 2 ), and the bridged form, 3 . While Hartree-Fock theory finds 1 to be most stable and 3 not to be a minimum, MP2/6-31G* optimization indicates 3 to be the global minimum. At higher levels employing full fourth-order Møller-Plesset theory and a quadruply split valence and polarized basis set (MP4STDQ/6-311+G*), 2 is only about 2 kcal/mol less stable than 1 and 3 , which are indicated to have nearly the same energy. LiNC thus is similar to C(Na)N and C(K)N, both of which are known to prefer T-shaped (bridged) structures in the gas phase. However, to an even greater extent than formerly realized, rotation of the lithium cation around the cyanide anion nucleus should be practically free. ΔH (LiCN) = 32.8 kcal/mol is estimated from the calculated lithium cation affinity of 151.2 kcal/mol. In addition, we find at the MP4SDTQ/6-31+G*//MP2/6-31G* level that the bridged form of NaCN is favored by 2–3 kcal/mol over the corresponding linear forms, which have nearly the same energy.     

Ab initio calculations of many-body energy expansion in LiF− clusters

The effects of the basis-set size on many-body energy expansion in LiF^? clusters are investigated and correlated with previously reported values on LiCl^? analogs. Coulomb and non-Coulomb energies in LiF^? at different configurations are also examined. Although at the minimal STO -3G basis V^na(3, 4) and V^na(4, 4) nonadditivity terms were the smallest in the D₃h configuration, they were the largest at the extended 6-311 ++G basis. V(m, n) terms where m = n ≥ 3 were found to be playing a small role in the chemistry and physics of LiF^? clusters compared with V(3, n) terms in LiCl^? clusters.     

A quantum mechanical approach to the kinetics of the hydrogen abstraction reaction H2O2 + •OH → HO2 + H2O

The kinetics of the hydrogen abstraction from H₂O₂ by ^?OH has been modeled with MP2/6‐31G*//MP2/6‐31G*, MP2‐SAC//MP2/6‐31G*, MP2/6‐31+G**//MP2/6‐31+G**, MP2‐SAC// MP2/6‐31+G**, MP4(SDTQ)/6‐311G**//MP2/6‐31G*, CCSD(T)/6‐31G*//CCSD(T)/6‐31G*, CCSD(T)/6‐31G**//CCSD(T)/6‐31G**, CCSD(T)/6‐311++G**//MP2/6‐31G* in the gas phase. MD simulations have been used to generate initial geometries for the stationary points along the potential energy surface for hydrogen abstraction from H₂O₂. The effective fragment potential (EFP) has been used to optimize the relevant structures in solution. Furthermore, the IEFPCM model has been used for the supermolecules generated via MD calculations. IEFPCM/MP2/6‐31G* and IEFPCM/CCSD(T)/6‐31G* calculations have also been performed for structures without explicit water molecules. Experimentally, the rate constant for hydrogen abstraction by ^?OH drops from 1.75 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 in the gas phase to 4.48 × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 in solution. The same trend has been reproduced best with MP4 (SDTQ)/6‐311G**//MP2/6‐31G* in the gas phase (0.415 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) and with EFP (UHF/6‐31G*) in solution (3.23 × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 502–514, 2005     

An insight into optical and EPR properties of AgCl and AgF complexes through MS–Xα and SCCEH calculations

MS-Xα and SCCEH calculations on the Ag²⁺ complexes AgF and AgCl (displaying an elongated D_4h symmetry) have been carried out for a better understanding of their experimental optical and EPR properties. As salient features, the present work supports that the unpaired electron in AgCl spends a little more time on ligands than on Ag²⁺, in agreement with the previous analysis of EPR and optical data for KCl:Ag²⁺. Furthermore, the five experimental optical transitions observed in that case are reasonably assigned. The first transition (observed at 12,500 cm^?1) is assigned to a jump involving the 5a_1g orbital built mainly (∽70%) from 3p orbitals of axial ligands, a fact that reflects the distinct level scheme for AgCl when compared to that for more ionic complexes. Calculations on AgF and AgF performed as a function of the equatorial Ag²⁺ –F^? distance led to a reasonable understanding of experimental gyromagnetic and superhyperfine tensors displayed by Ag²⁺ in fluorides. The different relative decrease undergone by g‖– go (8%) and g ? – go (28%) on passing from CsCdF₃:Ag²⁺ to RbCdF₃:Ag²⁺ is shown to be consistent with the formation of AgF and AgF complexes, respectively, related to the different substitutional position of Ag²⁺ in such lattices. The decrement of about 8.5% experienced by both g‖ – go and g? – go values on going from CsCdF₃:Ag²⁺ to NaF:Ag²⁺ is pointed out to reflect the different electrostatic potential (exerted by the rest of the lattice upon the complex) seen by AgF embedded in NaCl or perovskite-type lattices. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Basis set and correlation effects in the calculation of accurate gas phase dimerization energies of two M to give M (M = S,Se)

The dimerization energies of two M to give M (M=S,Se) were calculated. They depend strongly on the size of the basis set and the correlation method used (ranging from 217 to 522 kJ/mol, M = S) and, therefore, a systematic study of basis set and correlation effects was performed [MP2, MP3, MP4(SDQ), CCSD, CCSD(T)]. The introduction of a second set of polarising d‐functions caused a significant reduction of the dimerization energies, but neither of the above limits is reached by the MPn (n=2,3,4) theory, even with the largest basis sets [cc‐pVQZ]. However, convergence was achieved by CCSD(T), compound methods or hybrid HF/DFT calculations employing flexible basis sets [e.g., CCSD(T)/cc‐pV5Z, CBS‐Q or B3PW91/6‐311+G(3df)] and revealed an average dimerization energy of 261 (199) kJ/mol for sulfur (selenium), Δ_rH²⁹⁸ (2S → S) is 257 kJ/mol. In the selenium system the dependence on basis set and correlated method was less pronounced. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 218–226, 2000     

Electron transfer reactivity of O2+O system in low-spin coupling: Ab Initio study at electron correlation level

The electron transfer reactivity of the O₂+O system in low-spin coupling is studied at the second-order unrestricted Møller–Plesset (full)/6-311+G* basis set level by using different transition state structures. The properties and stabilities of the encounter complexes are compared for the five selected coupling structures: two T type, collinear, parallel, and crossing. The activation barriers and the coupling matrix elements are also calculated. The results indicate that the structures of the encounter complexes directly affect the electron transfer mechanism and rate. These encounter complexes are structurally unstable, the contact distances between the acceptor O₂ and the donor O are generally large, the interaction is weak, and the structures are floppy. The electronic transmission factor for the reacting system, O₂+O, is less than unity; thus, the electron transfer reaction is nonadiabatic in nature. Analysis of the dependence of relevant kinetic parameters on various influencing factors has shown that the effect of the solvent medium on the coupling matrix element is small but that on the electron transfer rate is very large. Among the five selected transition state structures, the electron transfer is more likely to take place via T₁-type and P-type structures. In the low-spin coupling the favorable electronic states for two reacting species are ¹∑(O₂) and X²Π_g(O) instead of X³∑(O₂) and X²π_g(O), which are favorable for the high-spin (quartet state) coupling mechanism. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 989–998, 1999     

Proton affinities of molecules containing nitrogen and oxygen: comparing ab initio and semiempirical results to experiments

We report a comparison of theoretical and experimental proton affinities at nitrogen and oxygen sites within a series of small molecules. The calculated proton affinities are determined using the semiempirical methods AM 1, MNDO , and PM 3; the ab initio Hartree–Fock method at the following basis levels: 3-21G //3-21G , 3-21+G //3-21G , 6-31G *//6-31G *, and 6-31+G (d, p)//6-31G *; and Møller–Plesset perturbation calculations: MP 2/6-31G *//6-31G *, MP 3/6-31G *//6-31G *, MP 2/6-31G +(d, p)//6-31G *, MP 3/6-31G +(d, p)//6-31G *, and MP 4(SDTQ )/6-31G +G (d, p)//6-31G *. The semiempirical methods have more nonsystematic scatter from the experimental values, compared to even the minimal 3-21G level ab initio calculations. The thermodynamically corrected 6-31G *//6-31G * proton affinities provide acceptable results compared to experiment, and we see no significant improvement over 6-31G *//6-31G * in the proton affinities with any of the higher-level calculations. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ab initio molecular orbital studies for compounds of magnesium

Using a 6-311G** basis set with estimation of correlation energy at the MP2 level, structural and energetic data for 40 molecular species containing magnesium have been calculated. For about half the species studied, further energetic data were obtained using Pople's G2 method. Enthalpy changes at 298.15 K were obtained for isogyric reactions and standard enthalpies of formation were derived from these. Comparison of the standard enthalpies of formation with the sparse literature data suggests the MP2/6-311G** standard enthalpies of formation are accurate to ± 15 kJ mol^?1 and the corresponding G2 enthalpies accurate to ± 10 kJ mol^?1. The calculated ΔH [MgN, g] revealed a gross error in the currently accepted value for this function. It is intended that these results will be used to parameterize the semiempirical molecular orbital package, MOPAC, for the element magnesium. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Vibrational analysis of buta-1,3-diene and its deutero and 13C derivatives and some of their rotational isomers

The wave numbers of trans-2,3-¹³C₂-buta-1,3-diene were calculated using a scaled quantum-chemical force field found at the MP2/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* level of theory. The obtained results and the theoretical sets of wave numbers for twelve deutero and ¹³C derivatives of the trans form and five deutero and ¹³C derivatives of the gauche form of buta-1,3-diene found previously at the MP2/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* level are compared with the corresponding experimental vibrational spectra corrected for the Fermi resonance. Combined analysis of the vibrational spectra of the above mentioned isotopomers was performed.     

Theoretical Investigations on Fluorine-Substituted Ethylene Dications C2HnF4-n 2+(n = 0–4)

The optimized geometries and energies of fluorine-substituted ethylene dications C₂H_nF_4-n ²⁺ (n = 0–4) have been investigated by means of ab initio methods. At the MP3/6-31G**//6-31G* + zero-point energy level of theory, the results predict that C₂F₄²⁺ and C₂HF₃²⁺ are planar, while C₂H₄²⁺, C₂H₃F²⁺ and 1,1—C₂H₂F₂²⁺ prefer a perpendicular geometry. For 1,2—C₂H₂F₂²⁺ an energy difference of only 0.3 kcal/mol is found between the (trans) planar and perpendicular structure. The stabilizations attributed to hyperconjugation, fluorine lone-pair donation, and (C? F) double-bond conjugation are discussed. A comparison is made for the C? C and C? F stretching frequencies determined at 6-31G*//6-31G* between the neutral and dicationic species. The theoretically determined ionization energies for the vertical process N⁺ → N²⁺ at the MP3/6-31G*//3-21G level are compared with experimental Q_min values.