Structures, energies, and spin-spin coupling constants of fluoro-substituted 1,3-diborata-2,4-diphosphoniocyclobutanes: four-member B-P-B-P rings B2P2F(n)H(8-n) with n = 0, 1, 2, 4

An ab initio study has been carried out to determine the structures, relative stabilities, and spin-spin coupling constants of a set of 15 fluoro-substituted 1,3-diborata-2,4-diphosphoniocyclobutanes B(2)P(2)F(n)H(8-n), for n = 0, 1, 2, 4, with four-member B-P-B-P rings. Except for B(2)P(2)F(4)H(4) with four fluorines bonded to two borons, these rings are puckered in a butterfly conformation. For a fixed number of fluorines, the isomers with B-F bonds are significantly more stable than those with P-F bonds. As the number of fluorines increases, the energy difference between the most stable isomer and the other isomers increases. Transition structures which interconvert axial and equatorial positions present relatively small inversion barriers. Coupling constants involving (31)P, namely, (1)J(B-P), (1)J(P-F), (2)J(P-P), (2)J(P-F), and (3)J(P-F) are large and are capable of providing structural information. They are sensitive to the number of fluorines present and can discriminate between axial, equatorial, and geminal B-F and P-F bonds, although not all do this to the same extent. (1)J(B-P) and (2)J(P-P) are similar in equilibrium and transition structures. Although transition structures no longer discriminate between axial and equatorial bonds, (1)J(P-F) and (3)J(P-F) remain sensitive to the number of fluorine atoms present.     

FCl:PCX complexes: old and new types of halogen bonds

MP2/aug'-cc-pVTZ calculations have been performed to investigate the halogen-bonded complexes FCl:PCX, for X = NC, CN, F, H, CCH, CCF, CH(3), Li, and Na. Although stable complexes with a F-Cl···P halogen bond exist that form through the lone pair at P (configuration I), except for FCl:PCCN, the more stable complexes are those in which FCl interacts with the C≡P triple bond through a perturbed π system (configuration II). In complexes I, the nature of the halogen bond changes from traditional to chlorine-shared and the interaction energies increase, as the electron-donating ability of X increases. The anionic complex FCl:PC(-) has a chlorine-transferred halogen bond. SAPT analyses indicate that configuration I complexes with traditional halogen bonds are stabilized primarily by the dispersion interaction. The electrostatic interaction is the most important for configuration I complexes with chlorine-shared halogen bonds and for configuration II complexes except for FCl:PCNa for which the induction term is most important. The F-Cl stretching frequency is red-shifted upon complexation. EOM-CCSD/(qzp,qz2p) spin-spin coupling constants have been obtained for all FCl:PCX complexes with configuration I. (1)J(F-Cl) decreases upon complexation. (2X)J(F-P) values are quadratically dependent upon the F-P distance and are very sensitive to halogen-bond type. (1X)J(Cl-P) tends to increase as the Cl-P distance decreases but then decreases dramatically in the chlorine-transferred complex FCl:PC(-) as the Cl-P interaction approaches that of a covalent Cl-P bond. Values of (1)J(F-Cl) for configuration II are reduced relative to configuration I, reflecting the longer F-Cl distances in II compared to those of the neutral complexes of I. Although the F-P and Cl-P distances in configuration II complexes are shorter than these distances in the corresponding configuration I complexes, (2X)J(F-P) and (1X)J(Cl-P) values are significantly reduced, indicating that coupling through the perturbed C-P π bond is less efficient. The nature of F-P coupling for configuration II is also significantly different, as evidenced by the relative importance of PSO, FC, and SD components.     

An ab initio study of cooperative effects in ternary complexes X:CNH:Z with X, Z = CNH, FH, ClH, FCl, and HLi: structures, binding energies, and spin-spin coupling constants across intermolecular bonds

A systematic ab initio investigation has been carried out to determine the structures, binding energies, and spin-spin coupling constants of ternary complexes X:CNH:Z and corresponding binary complexes X:CNH and CNH:Z, for X, Z = CNH, FH, ClH, FCl, and HLi. The enhanced binding energies of ternary complexes X:CNH:Z for fixed X as a function of Z decrease in the same order as the binding energies of the binary complexes CNH:Z. In contrast, the enhanced binding energies of the ternary complexes for fixed Z as a function of X do not decrease in the same order as the binding energies of the binary complexes X:CNH, a consequence of the increased stabilities of ternary complexes FCl:CNH:Z due to very strong chlorine-shared halogen bonds. For complexes in which the X···CNH interaction is a D-H···C hydrogen bond for D-H the proton-donor group (N-H, F-H, or Cl-H), spin-spin coupling constants (1)J(D-H) and (2h)J(D-C) in ternary complexes X:CNH:Z decrease in absolute value as the binding energies of binary complexes CNH:Z and the enhanced binding energies of the ternary complexes for fixed X as a function of Z also decrease. However, (2X)J(F-C) increases as the enhanced binding energies of the ternary complexes FCl:CNH:Z decrease, a consequence of the nature of the chlorine-shared halogen bond. The one-bond coupling constants (1)J(N-H) for the CNH···Z interaction in ternary complexes vary significantly, depending on the nature of the X···CNH interaction. The largest values of (1)J(N-H) are found for ternary complexes with FCl as X. Two-bond coupling constants (2h)J(N-A) for A the proton-acceptor atom of Z, and (2d)J(N-H) decrease in absolute value in the order of decreasing enhancement energies of ternary complexes X:CNH:Z for fixed Z as a function of X.     

Energetic and geometrical evidence of nonbonding character of some intramolecular halogen···oxygen and other Y···Y interactions

We present high-level ab initio calculations for representative group of molecules possessing the intramolecular interaction of the X···O type (X = F, Cl, Br, and I). Few examples of molecules with intramolecular O···O and F···F interactions are also investigated. We show that, although most often investigated as bonding, all these interactions are nonbonding or repulsive, as indicated by positive values of interaction energies obtained by means of a few estimating methods, by thorough studies of geometrical changes that take place during the X···O contact formation and by the lateral contact of electron density isosurfaces of X and O atoms, which both are characterized by negative values of electrostatic potential. The presented conclusion about the repulsive nature of the intramolecular X···O and similar interactions is in opposition to the proclamation of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules of Bader that the presence of a bond path and a corresponding bond critical point is always to indicate the bonding, thus, stabilizing interaction.     

On the properties of X···N noncovalent interactions for first-, second-, and third-row X atoms

In addition to a structure with a PH···N H-bond, a second complex of greater stability is formed when the PH(3) is rotated such that its P-H bond is pointing away from the approaching N lone pair of NH(3). Quantum calculations are applied to examine whether such a complex is characteristic only of P, or may occur as well for other atoms of the first, second, or third rows of the periodic table. The molecules PH(3), H(2)S, HCl, AsH(3), and NH(3) are all paired with NH(3) as electron donor. While NH(3) will not engage in an N···N attraction, all the others do form a X···N complex. The energetics, geometries, and other properties of these complexes are relatively insensitive to the nature of the X atom. This uniformity contrasts sharply with the H-bonded XH···N complexes where a strong sensitivity to X is observed. The three-dimensional nature of the electrostatic potential, in conjunction with the striving for a linear H-X···N orientation that maximizes charge transfer, serves as an excellent tool in understanding both the shape of the potential energy surface and the proclivity to engage in a X···N interaction.     

Ab initio study of ternary complexes X:(HCNH)(+):Z with X, Z = NCH, CNH, FH, ClH, and FCl: diminutive cooperative effects on structures, binding energies, and spin-spin coupling constants across hydrogen bonds

Ab initio calculations have been performed on a series of complexes in which (HCNH)(+) is the proton donor and CNH, NCH, FH, ClH, and FCl (molecules X and Z) are the proton acceptors in binary complexes X:HCNH(+) and HCNH(+):Z, and ternary complexes X:HCNH(+):Z. These complexes are stabilized by C-H(+)···A and N-H(+)···A hydrogen bonds, where A is the electron-pair donor atom of molecules X and Z. Binding energies of the ternary complexes are less than the sum of the binding energies of the corresponding binary complexes. In general, as the binding energy of the binary complex increases, the diminutive cooperative effect increases. The structures of these complexes, data from the AIM analyses, and coupling constants (1)J(N-H), (1h)J(H-A), and (2h)J(N-A) for the N-H(+)···A hydrogen bonds, and (1)J(C-H), (1h)J(H-A), and (2h)J(C-A) for the C-H(+)···A hydrogen bonds provide convincing evidence of diminutive cooperative effects in these ternary complexes. In particular, the symmetric N···H(+)···N hydrogen bond in HCNH(+):NCH looses proton-shared character in the ternary complexes X:HCNH(+):NCH, while the proton-shared character of the C···H(+)···C hydrogen bond in HNC:HCNH(+) decreases in the ternary complexes HNC:HCNH(+):Z and eventually becomes a traditional hydrogen bond as the strength of the HCNH(+)···Z interaction increases.     

Prediction and characterization of HCCH···AuX (X = OH, F, Cl, Br, CH3, CCH, CN, and NC) complexes: a π Au-bond

In this article, we performed quantum chemical calculations to study the π Au-bond in the HCCH···AuX (X = OH, F, Cl, Br, CH(3), CCH, CN, and NC) system. For comparison, we also investigated the HCCH···Au(+) and H(2)CCH(2)···AuF complexes. The equilibrium geometries and infrared spectra at the MP2 level were reported. The interaction energies were calculated at the MP2 and coupled-cluster single double triple levels. The natural bond orbital results support the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model. Moreover, we focused on the influence of X atom on the geometries, interaction energies, and orbital interactions as well as the comparison between HCCH···AuF and H(2)CCH(2)···AuF complexes. Although the π Au-bond in these complexes is electrostatic in nature, the weight of covalent nature is also important.     

Investigating the chemical dynamics of the reaction of ground-state carbon atoms with acetylene and its isotopomers

We investigated the multichannel reaction of ground-state carbon atoms with acetylene, C2H2 (X1Sigmag+), to form the linear and cyclic C3H isomers (atomic hydrogen elimination pathway) as well as tricarbon plus molecular hydrogen. The experiments were conducted under single-collision conditions at three different collision energies between 8.0 kJ mol-1 and 31.0 kJ mol-1. Our studies were complemented by crossed molecular beam experiments of carbon with three isotopomers C2D2(X1Sigmag+), C2HD (X1Sigma+), and 13C2H2 (X1Sigmag+) to clarify a potential intersystem crossing (ISC), the effect of the symmetry of the reaction intermediates on the center-of-mass angular distributions, the collision energy-dependent branching ratios of the atomic versus molecular hydrogen elimination pathways, and deuterium-enrichment processes. The results are discussed in light of recent electronic structure and dynamics calculations.     

Probing the dependence of long-range, four-atom interactions on intermolecular orientation: 3. Hydrogen and iodine

Two-laser, action spectroscopy experiments have been performed in the I(2)B-X, υ'-0 spectral region on H(2)···I(2) and D(2)···I(2) complexes to investigate the dependence of the H(2)/D(2) + I(2) intermolecular interactions on orientation. The spectra contain features associated with at least two different conformers of the ground-state H(2)/D(2)···I(2)(X,υ' = 0) complexes; one conformer has a preferred T-shaped geometry with the H(2)/D(2) moiety localized in a potential minimum that is orthogonal to the I-I bond axis, and the second conformer has a linear geometry with the H(2)/D(2) moiety positioned in minima at either end of the I(2) molecule, along the bond axis. Those features associated with complexes containing para-H(2)(j = 0), ortho-H(2)(j = 1), ortho-D(2)(j = 0), and para-D(2)(j = 1) are also assigned. The linear conformers are found to be more strongly bound than the T-shaped conformers with binding energies of 118.9(1.9) cm(-1) versus 91.3-93.3 cm(-1) for the ortho-H(2)···I(2) complexes and 144.2(2.1) cm(-1) versus 107.9 cm(-1) for the para-D(2)···I(2) complexes, respectively. Electronic structure calculations of the complexes containing ICl and I(2) with H(2), He, Ne, and Ar were performed to reveal the nature of the interactions and to shed insight into the origins of the different binding energies. The most stable minima in the H(2)/D(2) + I(2)(B,υ') excited-state potentials have T-shaped geometries. Calculated energies and probability amplitudes of the excited-state levels provide insight into the different excited-state intermolecular vibrational levels accessed by transitions of the two ground-state conformers.     

Halogen-hydride interaction between Z-X (Z = CN, NC; X = F, Cl, Br) and H-Mg-Y (Y = H, F, Cl, Br, CH3)

Halogen-hydride interactions between Z-X (Z = CN, NC and X = F, Cl, Br) as halogen donor and H-Mg-Y (Y = H, F, Cl, Br, CH(3)) as electron donor have been investigated through the use of Becke three-parameter hybrid exchange with Lee-Yang-Parr correlation (B3LYP), second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), and coupled-cluster single and double excitation (with triple excitations) [CCSD(T)] approaches. Geometry changes during the halogen-hydride interaction are accompanied by a mutual polarization of both partners with some charge transfer occurring from the electron donor subunit. Interaction energies computed at MP2 level vary from -1.23 to -2.99 kJ/mol for Z-F···H-Mg-Y complexes, indicating that the fluorine interactions are relatively very weak but not negligible. Instead, for chlorine- and bromine-containing complexes the interaction energies span from -5.78 to a maximum of -26.42 kJ/mol, which intimate that the interactions are comparable to conventional hydrogen bonding. Moreover, the calculated interaction energy was found to increase in magnitude with increasing positive electrostatic potential on the extension of Z-X bond. Analysis of geometric, vibrational frequency shift and the interaction energies indicates that, depending on the halogen, CN-X···H interactions are about 1.3-2.0 times stronger than NC-X···H interactions in which the halogen bonds to carbon. We also identified a clear dependence of the halogen-hydride bond strength on the electron-donating or -withdrawing effect of the substituent in the H-Mg-Y subunits. Furthermore, the electronic and structural properties of the resulting complexes have been unveiled by means of the atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses. Finally, several correlative relationships between interaction energies and various properties such as binding distance, frequency shift, molecular electrostatic potential, and intermolecular density at bond critical point have been checked for all studied systems.     

Bonding preferences of C2X4-bridged bimetallic transition metal complexes of Ti, Cu, and Ag

The bonding preference of transition metal species of general formula [(PH3)2M]2(mu-C2X4), where M = Cu or Ag and X = O, S, Se, or Te, and (Cp2Ti)2(mu-C2X4), where X = S or Se, are explored using density functional theory. The relative energies of metal binding to the bridging ligand in a dithiolene-like vs dithiocarbamate-like manner are evaluated. In all cases, the most stable structure corresponds to dithiolene-like (or side-side) bonding, consistent with the vast majority of these compounds which have been experimentally characterized. However, for M = Ag and X = S, Se, or Te, the two isomers are nearly degenerate.     

C_(80)X_(12)(X=H,F,Cl,Br)的结构和稳定性

为了考察勒烯衍生物结构与稳定性关系,采用密度泛函理论方法对C80X12(X=H,F,Cl,Br)进行了系统计算究.结表明,在C80X12(X=H,F)异构体中,最低能量异构体都违反五元环分离规则.然而,在C80X12(X=Cl,Br)异构体中,最低能量异构体都满足五元环分离规则.由于van der Waals半径较小,H或F加成到碳笼上时外部原子之间排斥作用小,因此在其优结构中,H或F优先加成到2个五元环共用碳原子上.相反,对于氯化、溴化勒烯,为了避免外部加成原子之间在重空间排斥作用,其优结构中Cl或Br优先加成到1,4-位点上.计算结还显,氢化、卤化反应热(C80+6X2→C80X12)遵循如下顺序,即C80F12>C80Cl12>C80H12>C80Br12.这些结表明勒烯衍生物稳定性和衍生化模与加成原子尺和电性有关.     

Crossed molecular beam studies of the reactions of allyl radicals, C3H5(X2A2), with methylacetylene (CH3CCH(X1A1)), allene (H2CCCH2(X1A1)), and their isotopomers

The chemical dynamics of the reaction of allyl radicals, C(3)H(5)(X(2)A(2)), with two C(3)H(4) isomers, methylacetylene (CH(3)CCH(X(1)A(1))) and allene (H(2)CCCH(2)(X(1)A(1))) together with their (partially) deuterated counterparts, were unraveled under single-collision conditions at collision energies of about 125 kJ mol(-1) utilizing a crossed molecular beam setup. The experiments indicate that the reactions are indirect via complex formation and proceed via an addition of the allyl radical with its terminal carbon atom to the terminal carbon atom of the allene and of methylacetylene (alpha-carbon atom) to form the intermediates H(2)CCHCH(2)CH(2)CCH(2) and H(2)CCHCH(2)CHCCH(3), respectively. The lifetimes of these intermediates are similar to their rotational periods but too short for a complete energy randomization to occur. Experiments with D4-allene and D4-methylacetylene verify explicitly that the allyl group stays intact: no hydrogen emission was observed but only the release of deuterium atoms from the perdeuterated reactants. Further isotopic substitution experiments with D3-methylacetylene combined with the nonstatistical nature of the reaction suggest that the intermediates decompose via hydrogen atom elimination to 1,3,5-hexatriene, H(2)CCHCH(2)CHCCH(2), and 1-hexen-4-yne, H(2)CCHCH(2)CCCH(3), respectively, via tight exit transition states located about 10-15 kJ mol(-1) above the separated products. The overall reactions were found to be endoergic by 98 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1) and have characteristic threshold energies to reaction between 105 and 110 kJ mol(-1). Implications of these findings to combustion and interstellar chemistry are discussed.     

Photoionization of C(4) molecular beam: ab initio calculations

Large computations are performed on the C(4) (+) cation in order to characterize its stable isomers and its lowest electronic excited states using configuration interaction methods and large basis sets. Several stable isomers are found including a linear C(4) (+)(l-C(4) (+)), a rhombic C(4) (+)(r-C(4) (+)) (or cyclic), and a branched (d-C(4) (+)) structure. Our calculations show a high density of electronic states for all of these isomers favoring their interactions. By combining the present ab initio data and those on neutral C(4), the l-C(4)(X)+hnu-->l-C(4) (+)(X(+))+e(-), d-C(4)(X)+hnu-->d-C(4) (+)(X(+))+e(-), and r-C(4)(X)+hnu-->r-C(4) (+)(X(+))+e(-) vertical photoionization transition energies are computed at 10.87, 10.92, and 10.77 eV, respectively. Photoionizing a C(4) molecular beam results on an onset at 10.4-10.5 eV and then to a linear increase of the signal due to the opening of several ionization channels involving most of the C(4) and C(4) (+) isomers and electronic states.     

Halogen bonded complexes between volatile anaesthetics (chloroform, halothane, enflurane, isoflurane) and formaldehyde: a theoretical study

The structures and intermolecular interactions in the halogen bonded complexes of anaesthetics (chloroform, halothane, enflurane and isoflurane) with formaldehyde were studied by ab initio MP2 and CCSD(T) methods. The CCSD(T)/CBS calculated binding energies of these complexes are between -2.83 and -4.21 kcal mol(-1). The largest stabilization energy has been found for the C-Br···O bonded halothane···OCH(2) complex. In all complexes the C-X bond length (where X = Cl, Br) is slightly shortened, in comparison to a free compound, and an increase of the C-X stretching frequency is observed. The electrostatic interaction was excluded as being responsible for the C-X bond contraction. It is suggested that contraction of the C-X bond length can be explained in terms of the Pauli repulsion (the exchange overlap) between the electron pairs of oxygen and halogen atoms in the investigated complexes. This is supported by the DFT-SAPT results, which indicate that the repulsive exchange energy overcompensates the electrostatic one. Moreover, the dispersion and electrostatic contributions cover about 95% of the total attraction forces, in these complexes.     

杂富勒烯的电子结构与性质关系的研究──Ⅱ.C_(57)X_3,C_(56)X_4(X=B、N、P)的位置异构体

用 CNDO／2方法在 586微机上计算了 C57X3C56X4（X=B、N、P）的 234个位置异构体的电子结构。在C57X3（X=B、N、P）位置异构体中，C57X3（1，2，9）（X=B、N、P）分别是最稳定的。对于C56X4（X=B、N、P）位置异构体，C56B4（1，2，9，8），C56N4（1，2，9，12）和C56P4（1，2，9，12）分别是最稳定的，但稳定性都比C60差。其氧化或还原性都比 C60好，将它们和 C60比较，与 X相距一个或两个键的 C原子电荷密度增加或减少较多，其余电或亲核反应性增加；X与 X，X与 C原子之间 Wiberg Order都减少较多，其键的强度削弱；邻近杂原子的 C与 C原子之间 Wiberg Order减少或增加很少，其键的强度稍有削弱或增强。     

C36X(X=O,NH,S)各种可能异构体的芳香性研究

采用拓扑共振能方法对富勒烯C36X(X=O,NH,S)开环结构中的所有可能的异构体及阳离子和阴离子芳香性进行了理论研究. 计算结果表明,C36X的芳香性高于C36. C36X的阳离子因其共振能为负值而具有反芳香性. 反之,C36X的阴离子因共振能为正值而具有芳香性和较高的稳定性. C36的D6h和D2d异构体中杂原子X插入在5-5键时得到的化合物最稳定. 从理论上预测了C36X的负离子能形成稳定的金属富勒烯. 对C36X的阳离子和阴离子的芳香性进行了解释.     

Cooperative and diminutive unusual weak bonding in F3CX···HMgH···Y and F3CX···Y···HMgH trimers (X = Cl, Br; Y = HCN, and HNC)

MP2 calculations with cc-pVTZ basis set were used to analyze intermolecular interactions in F(3)CX···HMgH···Y and F(3)CX···Y···HMgH triads (X = Cl, Br; Y = HCN, and HNC) which are connecting with three kinds of unusual weak interactions, namely halogen-hydride, dihydrogen, and σ-hole. To understand the properties of the systems better, the corresponding dyads are also studied. Molecular geometries, binding energies, and infrared spectra of monomers, dyads, and triads were investigated at the MP2/cc-pVTZ computational level. Particular attention is given to parameters such as cooperative energies, cooperative dipole moments, and many-body interaction energies. Those complexes with simultaneous presence of a σ-hole bond and a dihydrogen bond show cooperativity energy ranging between -1.02 and -2.31 kJ mol(-1), whereas those with a halogen-hydride bond and a dihydrogen bond are diminutive, with this energetic effect between 0.1 and 0.63 kJ mol(-1). The electronic properties of the complexes have been analyzed using the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), the electron density shift maps, and the parameters derived from the atoms in molecules (AIM) methodology.     

硼碳团簇BnC2 (n＝1～6)的理论研究

应用密度泛函理论在B3LYP/6-311＋G(d)水平上研究了硼碳团簇B_nC₂ (n＝1～6)的几何结构、生长机制和相对稳定性. 计算结果表明, 对于n＝2～6的簇, 平面多环状构型为最稳定的结构, 其中C原子分布于环的顶点、有尽可能多的三配位硼原子和尽可能多的B—C键. 碳原子作为杂原子倾向掺杂于团簇的顶点位置, 它的掺杂不改变硼团簇的主体结构. 与平面多环状结构相比, 随着簇尺寸的增大, 三维结构和线性链结构更不稳定. 在低能线性结构中, C原子位于链两侧的第二个位置. 计算的碎片分裂能、递增键能以及HOMO-LUMO能隙表明, B₄C₂为幻数簇.     

MX3(-) superhalogens (M = Be, Mg, Ca; X = Cl, Br): a photoelectron spectroscopic and ab initio theoretical study

Gas-phase alkaline earth halide anions, MgX3(-) and CaX3(-) (X = Cl, Br), were produced using electrospray and investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy at 157 nm. Extremely high electron binding energies were observed for all species and their first vertical detachment energies were measured as 6.60 +/- 0.04 eV for MgCl3(-), 6.00 +/- 0.04 eV for MgBr3(-), 6.62 +/- 0.04 eV for CaCl3(-), and 6.10 +/- 0.04 eV for CaBr3(-). The high electron binding energies indicate these are very stable anions and they belong to a class of anions, called superhalogens. Theoretical calculations at several levels of theory were carried out on these species, as well as the analogous BeX3(-). Vertical detachment energy spectra were predicted to compare with the experimental observations, and good agreement was obtained for all species. The first adiabatic detachment energies were found to be substantially lower (by about 1 eV) than the corresponding vertical detachment energies for all the MX3(-) species, indicating extremely large geometry changes between MX3(-) and MX3. We found that all the MX3(-) anions possess D3h ((1)A1') structures and are extremely stable against dissociation into MX2 and X-. The corresponding neutral species MX3, however, were found to be only weakly bound with respect to dissociation toward MX2 + X. The global minimum structures of all the MX3 neutrals were found to be C2v ((2)B2), which can be described as (X2(-))(MX+) charge-transfer complexes, whereas the MX2...X (C2v, (2)B1) van der Waals complexes were shown to be low-lying isomers.