All electron ab initio investigations of the electronic states of the MoN molecule

The low lying electronic states of the molecule MoN were investigated by performing all electron ab initio multi-configuration self-consistent-field (CASSCF) calculations. The relativistic corrections for the one electron Darwin contact term and the relativistic mass-velocity correction were determined in perturbation calculations. The electronic ground state is confirmed as being ⁴∑⁻. The chemical bond of MoN has a triple bond character because of the approximately fully occupied delocalized bonding π and σ orbitals. The spectroscopic constants for the ground state and ten excited states were derived. The excited doublet states ²∑⁻, ²Γ, ²Δ, and ²∑⁺ are found to be lower lying than the ⁴Π state that was investigated experimentally. Elaborate multi-configuration configuration-interaction (MRCI) calculations were carried out for the states ⁴∑⁻ and ⁴∏ using various basis sets. The spectroscopic constants for the ⁴∑⁻ ground state were determined as r_e=1.636 Å and ω_e=1109 cm⁻¹, and for the ⁴∏ state as r_e=1.662 Å and ω_e=941 cm⁻¹. The values for the ground state are in excellent agreement with available experimental data. The MoN molecule is polar with a charge transfer from Mo to N. The dipole moment was determined as 2.11 D in the ⁴∑⁻ state and as 4.60 D in the ⁴∏ state. These values agree well with the revised experimental values determined from molecular Stark spectroscopic measurements. The dissociation energy, D_e, is determined as 5.17 eV, and D₀ as 5.10 eV.     

Theoretical and experimental studies of radiative lifetimes of excited electronic states in CO

The electronic dipole transition moment functions of the A ²Π-X ²Σ⁺, B ²Σ⁺-X ²Σ⁺ and B ²Σ⁺-A ²Π transitions and the dipole moment function of the X ²Σ⁺ state of CO⁺ have been calculated using large contracted CI wavefunctions. The computed transition moment functions together with experimental potential energy curves were used to obtain radiative lifetimes of the excited electronic states B ²Σ⁺ and A ²Π. Radiative lifetimes of vibrational levels of the X ²Σ⁺ state were derived from the calculated dipole moment function. The high-frequency deflection technique was used to obtain radiative lifetimes of the ν′ = 0, 1,2 and 3 vibrational levels of the B ²Σ⁺ state and also radiative lifetimes of individual rotational levels of ν′ =0. The calculated radiative lifetimes are shorter than the measured ones by about 10%. The experimental ν′ dependence is reproduced by theoretical calculation. The calculated radiative lifetimes for the A ²Π state are in excellent agreement with lifetimes measured with an ion trap technique.     

The A Πu-X Πg emission spectrum of I2

The A ²Π_u-X ²Π_g electronic emission spectrum of I₂⁺ has been recorded at a low rotational temperature in a crossed molecular beam/electron beam apparatus. Six vibrational sequences with five or more members have been assigned to progressions in ν′, giving ω′_e = 122±8 cm⁻¹, but a full vibrational analysis has not been possible. It is not known whether this is due to the relatively poor resolution (≈5 cm⁻¹) at which the spectrum has been recorded or because the A ²Π_u state is perturbed in one or both spin-orbit components. Existing data on the A state of I₂⁺ are reviewed.     

Ab initio calculations on the multipole moments and dipole polarisabilities of the PO molecular ion (XΣ)

The potential energy, dipole, quadrupole and octopole moments and dipole polarisabilities have been calculated at CASSCF level for the ground X¹Σ⁺ state of the PO⁺ molecular ion as a function of internuclear distance. Most of the electrical properties have not previously been calculated and show rapid variations around 5 a.u. due to a perturbation. The calculated vibrational frequency of 1410.4 cm⁻¹ and the integrated IR absorption intensity of 984 cm² mol⁻¹ should lead towards the first observation of the vibrational spectrum.     

A new singlet state of Te2

The 4067 Å line of the krypton-ion laser covers two transitions in the BO⁺_u-X O⁺_g system of ¹³⁰Te₂, R(36) in the 16-0 band and R(172) in the 18-0 band. Subsequent fluorescence has been recorded by Fourier transform spectrometry in the range 5900 to 15000 cm⁻¹. Many transitions, with v' in the range 0 to 47, have been assigned to a new system, B O⁺_u-b¹ ∑⁺_g, and vibrational and rotational constants for the new state have been derived. The value of T_e for b ^I∑_g⁺ is about 9600.2 cm⁻¹.     

Structural and spectroscopic effects of vibronic coupling in the C2F radical

The lowest three (1²A^′,2²A^′,1²A^′′) potential energy surfaces of the C₂F radical have been studied at the ab initio level, using Multi Reference Configuration Interaction techniques. For linear geometries, the three surfaces correlate with a ²Π and a ²Σ⁺ state, which are very close in energy. Only the X²A^′ ground state was found to be bent, with R_CC=1.271 Å; R_CF=1.276 Å; CCF=165°, and a barrier to linearity of 275 cm⁻¹. The spin–rovibronic energy levels up to J=7/2 have been calculated using a recently developed method [Carter et al., Mol. Phys. 98 (2000) 1967]. Almost all of the resulting levels arise from a strong mixture of two out of three electronic states and their assignment is intrinsically ambiguous. A partial characterization, based on the shape of the vibronic wavefunctions, has been made.     

Cationic and anionic states of CF, CCl, SiF and SiCl. Some new information derived using translational energy spectroscopy

Translational-energy spectroscopy was applied to collisional-excitation and charge-inversion reactions of CF⁺, CCl⁺, SiF⁺ and SiCl⁺ in order to gain energetic and bond-length information about the anionic and excited-cationic states of the title molecules. The excitation spectra revealed that the ã³Π state, known in CCl⁺ and SiCl⁺, has a term energy of 4.85 ± 0.15 eV in CF⁺ and 4.70 ± 0.20 eV in SiF⁺, while the 1¹Π state, known in CCl⁺, is not below the dissociation threshold in CF⁺, SiF⁺ and SiCl⁺. These data, and bond-length estimates for the ã³Π states, are consistent with documented ab initio predictions except for r_e of CF⁺(ã³Π) which seems to be larger than 1.21 Å. Charge-inversion spectra indicated that beams of monohalide cations formed from the tetrahalides, contained substantial proportions of ã³Π-state ions, and, in the case of CCl, SiF and SiCl, the broadness of spectral peaks was taken as evidence for the stability of the ã¹Δ-state anion. Adiabatic electron affinities were deduced to be 0.49 ± 0.15 eV, 0.89 ± 0.20 eV, 1.34 ± 0.30 eV and 1.40 ± 0.30 eV for the title molecules, respectively.     

Autoionization spectra of Li2 and the XΣg ground state of Li2: Experimental and theoretical investigations

Autoionizing Rydberg levels of Li₂ molecules in a supersonic molecular beam are populated by stepwise excitation with two tunable pulsed dye lasers. The observed autoionization spectra show severe perturbations. Based on calculations of quantum defects and a perturbation treatment of l-uncoupling a tentative assignment of Rydberg series up to n = 32 is proposed. The convergence limits of these series yield a value of IP = 41475 cm⁻¹ for the adiabatic ionization potential and a vibrational constant ω_e = 263 cm⁻¹ for the X²Σ⁺_g ground state of Li⁺₂. The experimental results are compared with ab initio calculations combined with a core polarization potential, which yield the potential curve. the dissociation energy, the quadrupole moment and the vibrational frequency for the X²Σ⁺_g ground state of Li⁺₂, in the excellent agreement with experimental findings.     

Analytical potential energy function for the Van der Waals molecule He2Ne

A potential energy function has been derived for the two linear isomer structures He₂Ne⁺(X²Σ⁺) using ab initio calculations with the QCISD(T)/6–31++G(d,p) method. Because we use the reasonable dissociation limit (3) instead of the unacceptable one (1), our potential energy function represents considerable topographical features in detail, including the linear [He---Ne⁺---He] structure (R_HeNe = 1.4694 Å, R_He'Ne = 2.0069 Å HeNeHe = 180°) with two symmetric linear saddles (R_HeNe = R_He'Ne = 1.80 Å, HeNeHe = 180° and R_HeNe = 1.5 Å, R_He'Ne = 3.2 A°, HeNeHe = 180°), and the topographical minimum of the [He---He---Ne⁺] structure (R_HeHe = 2.2217 Å, R_HeNe = 1.4426 Å, HeHeNe = 180°), with a linear saddle (R_HeHe' = 3.0 Å, R_HeNe = 1.8 Å, HeHeNe = 180°).     

Structural and theoretical studies of Xe(OChF5)2 and [XeOChF5][AsF6] (Ch = Se, Te)

The XeOSeF₅⁺ cation has been synthesized for the first time and characterized in solution by ¹⁹F, ⁷⁷Se and ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray crystallography and Raman spectroscopy with AsF₆⁻ as its counter anion. The X-ray crystal structures of the tellurium analogue and of the Xe(OChF₅)₂ derivatives have also been determined: [XeOChF₅][AsF₆] crystallize in tetragonal systems, P4/n, a=6.1356(1) Å, c=13.8232(2) Å, V=520.383(14) Å³, Z=2 and R₁=0.0453 at −60°C (Te) and a=6.1195(7) Å, c=13.0315(2) Å, V=488.01(8) Å³, Z=2 and R₁=0.0730 at −113°C (Se); Xe(OTeF₅)₂ crystallizes in a monoclinic system, P2₁/c, a=10.289(2) Å, b=9.605(2) Å, c=10.478(2) Å, β=106.599(4)°, V=992.3(3) Å³, Z=4 and R₁=0.0680 at −127°C; Xe(OSeF₅)₂ crystallizes in a triclinic system, , a=8.3859(6) Å, c=12.0355(13) Å, V=732.98(11) Å³, Z=3 and R₁=0.0504 at −45°C. The energy minimized geometries and vibrational frequencies of the XeOChF₅⁺ cations and Xe(OChF₅)₂ were calculated using density functional theory, allowing for definitive assignments of their experimental vibrational spectra.     

MRD CI study on the low-lying states of AlP

Large-scale MRD CI calculations assign to AlP the ground state X ³Σ⁻ (9σ²3π²) and a close-lying state 1 ³Π (9σ3π³) (T_e = 0.08 eV). Up to transition energies of 2.0 eV, other states are described by the configurations 9σ3π³ (1¹Π), 8σ²3π⁴ (1 ¹Σ⁺), 9σ²3π² (1 ¹Δ and 2 ¹Σ⁺) and 9σ3π²4π (1 ⁵Π). The 2 ³Π state, located at ≈ 2.30 eV, shows a shallow double minimum. Numerous perturbations are expected to induce predissociation upon 2 ³Π. Multiplets arising from the occupation 8σ²3π³4π are clustered in the 3.25–3.50 eV region. Quintet states with the configuration 8σ9σ3π³4π are bound, with T_e values (in eV) of 3.80 (1 ⁵Σ⁺), 4.44 (1 ⁵Δ) and 4.88 (3 ⁵Σ⁻), respectively. The 9σ → 4s Rydberg members ⁵Σ⁻ and ³Σ⁻ lie in the 4.58–4.72 eV energy region. The first ionization potential (ionization to X⁴Σ⁻ of AlP⁺, 9σ → ∞) is estimated to be 7.65 eV. Ionization to the 1 ²Σ⁻ and 1 ²Π states of AlP⁺ is suggested to occur between 8.0 and 8.8 eV. The dipole moments of X ³Σ⁻, 1 ¹Δ and 2 ¹Σ⁺ are close to 1.0 D, whereas the 1 ¹Σ⁺ state has μ = 3.49 D; 1 ³Π and 1 ¹Π have dipole moments from 2.45 to 2.91 D. All low-lying states show a polarity Al⁺P⁻. Finally, the electronic structure and transition energies of AlP are compared with those of the isoelectronic species BN, AIN, and SiP⁺.     

The chemical production of electronically excited states in the H/NF2 system

A mixture of NF₃ and Ar is passed through an rf discharge in a flow-system to produce, among other species, F and NF₂. When H₂, D₂, or CH₄ are added downstream, reactions with F atoms produce vibrationally excited HF or DF together with H, D, or CH₃. The latter free radicals can react with NF₂, probably by an elimination reaction to produce electronically excited NF: NF₂(²B₁) + H(D, CH₃) → HF^*(DF^* + NF(a¹Δ). A vibrational-to-electronic energy transfer process between the products of this reaction then produces the next higher state of NF: HF(ν 2) + NF(a¹Δ) → HF(ν−2) + NF(b¹Σ⁺). A similar transfer process has also been found between the electronically excited a¹Δ states of O₂ and NF: O₂(a¹Δ) + NF(a¹Δ) → O₂(X³Σ⁻) + NF(b¹Σ⁺). The H or D atoms but not the CH₃ radicals are then found to react with either NF(a¹Δ) or NF(X³Σ⁻) to produce electronically excited N(₂D) atoms, which in turn react with the NF(a¹Δ) molecules to produce N₂(B³Π_g). The observed nitrogen first positive radiation has been demonstrated to be produced entirely by this reaction mechanism rather than by the N(⁴S) recombination that accounts for the Rayleigh afterglow. In addition, the occurrence of the reaction N(₂D) + N₂O → NO(B²Π_r) + N₂ (X¹Σ⁺_g) has been verified. Finally we have observed emission at 3344 Å, which we attribute to the NF(A³Π), which has not been previously reported.     

“Single collision” chemiluminescent studies of the La---OCS reaction—vibrational analysis of the LaS CΠ-XΣ system and determination of D0(LaS)

The chemiluminescent emission of lanthanum monosulfide resulting from the reaction of lanthanum with carbonyl sulfide was studied. A band system extending from 4300 to 4800 Å was observed. It was already analyzed and identified as the C²Π-X²Σ⁺ transition. A lower bound of 136.15 ± 0.42 kcal/mole was calculated for D⁰₀(LaS). The spectra and structure of LaS are compared to LaO.     

C CP MAS NMR, FTIR, X-ray diffraction and PM3 studies of some N-(ω-carboxyalkyl)morpholine hydrohalides

N-(ω-carboxyalkyl)morpholine hydrochlorides, OC₄H₈N(CH₂)_nCOOH·HCl, n=1–5, were obtained and analyzed by ¹³C cross polarization (CP) magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR, FTIR and PM3 calculations. The structure of N-(3-carboxypropyl)morpholine hydrochloride (n=3) has been solved by X-ray diffraction method at 100 K and refined to the R=0.031. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a=14.307(3), b=9.879(2), c=7.166(1) Å, β=93.20(3)°, V=1011.3(3) ų, Z=4. In this compound the nitrogen atom is protonated and two molecules form a centrosymmetric dimer, connected by two N⁺–HCl⁻ (3.095(1) Å) and two O–HCl⁻ (3.003(1) Å) hydrogen bonds. ¹³C CP MAS NMR spectra, contrary to the solution, showed non-equivalence of the ring carbon atoms. The PM3 calculations predict a molecular dimer without proton transfer for an HCl complex, while for an HBr complex an ion pairs with proton transfer, and reproduces correctly the conformation of both dimers but overestimates H-bond distances. Shielding constants calculated from the PM3 geometry of ion pairs gave a linear correlation with the ¹³C chemical shifts in solids.     

Theoretical determination of the ionization potentials of the 1σ and 2σ electrons of CO(Σ)

Large-basis-set calculations of near Hartree-Fock accuracy were performed on CO⁺(1σ-hole ²Σ⁺) and CO⁺)2σ-hole, ²Σ⁺); correlation energies for these systems and for CO were calculated using an atoms-in-molecule approach, relativistic energies and vibrational structure corrections were also considered. The results are: IP(CO, 1σ) = 542.4 (542.57) eV, IP(CO,2σ) = 297.0 (296.24) cV, D_c(CO, ¹Σ⁺) = 10.8 (11.1) Ev, D₃(CO⁺, 1σ, ²Σ⁺) = 11.9 eV, D_e(CO⁺, 2σ, ²Σ⁺) = 9.1 eV, where IP and D_e stand respectively for ionization potential and dissociation energy, and where the numbers in parentheses refer to the most recent experimental values. The electron transfers resulting from the ionization of inner-shell electrons are discussed. Finally a quantitative correlation is developed correlating absolute chemical shifts to charge densities. Agreement between the calculated values and those derived from the correlation is quite satisfactory.     

Vibrational spectra and normal coordinate analysis of CF3 compounds Part XLVII. Vibrational spectra, normal coordinate analysis and electron diffraction investigation of CF3SiH3 and its deuterated varieties

The molecular structure of CF₃SiH₃ in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction analysis. Combined with a B₀ value derived from high resolution infrared spectra, this yielded r(SiC), 1.923(3) Å, r(SiH) 1.482(5) Å, r(CF) 1.348(1) Å, FCF 106.7(5)° and HSiH 110.3(10)° (r° values). The gas phase infrared and liquid phase Raman spectra of CF₃SiH₃, CF₃SiH₂D, CF₃SiD₃ have been measured and assigned, and force constants have been calculated by means of a normal coordinate analysis based on 52 experimental frequencies. The weakness of the SiC bond is confirmed by the low f(SiC) value of 2.54 N cm⁻¹. Infrared spectra recorded with a resolution of 0.04 cm⁻¹ at 240 K revealed rotational structure of vibrational bands. Rotational analyses of most parallel and a few perpendicular bands of CF₃SiH₃ and CF₃SiD₃ have been performed. Ground and excited state vibrational parameters have been obtained and used as supplementary data for the determination of the harmonic force field. Strong blending of all bands due to hot band cascades was noted.     

Threshold photoelectron spectroscopy of iodine monobromide

A high-resolution (1–7 meV) threshold photoelectron spectroscopic study of IBr was performed using synchrotron radiation and a penetrating-field electron spectrometer over the valence ionization region of the molecule. Extensive vibrational structure was found in all three electronic-state band systems (X²Π_i, A²Π_i and B²Σ⁺) of IBr⁺. In the (X²Π_i) band system both spin–orbit components exhibited extended vibrational structure in the Franck–Condon gap regions that is attributed to resonance autoionization of neutral Rydberg states lying in these energy regions. Analysis of this vibrational structure yielded accurate spectroscopic constants.     

Vibrational relaxation and electronic mutation of metastable nitrogen molecules generated by nitrogen atom recombination on cobalt and nickel

The recombination of nitrogen atoms on polycrystalline samples of cobalt and nickel produces metastable electronically excited nitrogen molecules, probably N₂(W³Δ_u), which are collisionally transferred to the N₂(B³Πg) state. Information about vibrational relaxation of the metastable state by N₂(X¹Σ⁺_g) is inferred from composition dependent changes in the observed first positive emission spectrum [N₂9A³Σ⁺_g)−N₂(B³Π_g] with the aid of multilevel, steady-state, kinetic model.     

Electronic states of PN obtained by configuration-interaction studies

Potential curves were calculated for eighteen low-lying doublet and quartet states of PN⁺, using configuration-interaction methods and double-zeta plus polarization and diffuse basis sets. Spectroscopic constants were evaluated for fourteen stable states. The X ²Σ⁺ ground state lies very close to A ²Π (0.34 eV calculated). The 2 ²Σ⁺ state has two shallow minima of similar energy, being due to σ* → σ at smaller R, and π → π* at larger R. For N₂⁺, σ* → σ is much lower in energy than π → π*, whereas the opposite situation applies to P₂⁺.     

A CASSCF/icMRCI study of the electric field gradient in low-lying electronic states of N2/N2

The electric field gradients (EFG’s) at the nucleus are calculated as a function of internuclear separation in the X²Σ_g⁺ and B²Σ_u⁺ electronic states of the nitrogen molecule cation using the internally contracted multireference configuration interaction (icMRCI) method. The EFG’s and potential energy functions (PEF’s) are used to estimate the ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole coupling constants (NQCC’s) in the two electronic states as functions of vibrational and end-over-end rotational quantum numbers. The dependences of the computed constants on the basis set and reference configuration space are investigated. Since no counterpart for comparison of the calculated NQCC’s exists, the N₂⁺ results are supported by analogous calculations on the X¹Σ_g⁺ and A³Σ_u⁺ states of N₂, for which established data are available. The overall good quality of the icMRCI wave functions is further corroborated by a favorable agreement of spectroscopic constants derived from the corresponding PEF’s and experimental data. Variations of the EFG with internuclear separation are explained in terms of wave function composition, and used for gaining specific insight into the chemical bonding in N₂⁺ and N₂.