New temperature effect on tunneling reaction in hydrogen, alkane, and ethanol in the solid phase

Rate constants for the tunneling reaction (HD + D → h + D₂) in solid HD increase steeply with increasing temperature above 5 K, while they are almost constant below 4.2 K. The apparent activation energy for the tunneling reaction above 5 K is 95 K, which is consistent with the energy (91–112 K) for vacancy formation in solid hydrogen. The results above 5 K were explained by the model that the tunneling reaction was accelerated by a local motion of hydrogen molecules and hydrogen atoms. The model of the tunneling reaction assisted by the local motion of the reactans and products was applied to the temperature dependence of the proton-transfer tunneling reaction (C₆H₆⁻ + C₂H₅OH → C₆H₇ + C₂H₅O⁻) in solid ethanol, the tunneling elimination of H₂ molecule of H₂ molecule ((CH₃)₂ CHCH(CH₃)₂⁺ → (CH₃)₂ C = C(CH₃)₂⁺ + H₂) in solid 2,3-dimethylbutane, and the selective tunneling reaction of H atoms in solid neo-C₅H₁₂-alkane mixtures.     

A Gaussian-2 ab initio study of [C2H5S] ions: III. H2 and CH4 eliminations from CH3CHSH and CH3SCH2

Gaussian-2 ab initio calculations were performed to examine the six modes of unimolecular dissociation of cis-CH₃CHSH⁺ (1⁺), trans-CH₃CHSH⁺ (2⁺), and CH₃SCH₂⁺ (3⁺): 1⁺→CH₃⁺+trans-HCSH (1); 1⁺→CH₃+trans-HCSH⁺ (2); 1⁺→CH₄+HCS⁺ (3); 1⁺→H₂+c-CH₂CHS⁺ (4); 2⁺→H₂+CH₃CS⁺ (5); and 3⁺→H₂+c-CH₂CHS⁺ (6). Reactions (1) and (2) have endothermicities of 584 and 496 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Loss of CH₄ from 1⁺ (reaction (3)) proceeds through proton transfer from the S atom to the methyl group, followed by cleavage of the C–C bond. The reaction pathway has an energy barrier of 292 kJ mol⁻¹ and a transition state with a wide spectrum of nonclassical structures. Reaction (4) has a critical energy of 296 kJ mol⁻¹ and it also proceeds through the same proton transfer step as reaction (3), followed by elimination of H_2. Formation of CH₃CS⁺ from 2⁺ (reaction (5)) by loss of H₂ proceeds through protonation of the methine (CH) group, followed by dissociation of the H₂ moiety. Its energy barrier is 276 kJ mol⁻¹. On both the MP2/6-31G* and QCISD/6-31G* potential-energy surfaces, the H₂ 1,1-elimination from 3⁺ (reaction (6)) proceeds via a nonclassical intermediate resembling c-CH₃SCH₂⁺ and has a critical energy of 269 kJ mol⁻¹.     

A Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance study of the reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon cations with molecules of interstellar interest

The reactivity of naphthalene and pyrene radical cations and their derivatives (C₁₀H_n⁺, n=6,7,8,9), C₁₆H_n (n=9,10,11) has been studied with molecules of interstellar interest in an ion cyclotron resonance apparatus. The radical cations C₁₀H₈⁺ and C₁₆H₁₀⁺ are unreactive with H₂,CO,H₂O and NH₃. Adduct formation is the only channel for almost all reactions of C₁₀H₇⁺ with these molecules. The implications of these results for the stability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) cations in the interstellar medium are briefly discussed. Exploratory studies of the ion chemistry of a larger PAH, coronene, have also been done.     

Dissociation reactions of the vinyl radical in the AA″ state

In the present theoretical work we have explored mechanisms of dissociation reactions of the vinyl radical in the A²A″ state (C₂H₃ (A²A″)) and examined possible pathways for nonadiabatic dissociation of C₂H₃ (A²A″) into C₂H₂ (X¹Σ_g⁺). In the calculations we used the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) and multiconfiguration second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) methods in conjunction with the cc-pVDZ and cc-pVTZ basis sets. Mechanisms for the following three dissociation channels of C₂H₃ in the A²A″ state were explored: (1) C₂H₃ (A²A″) → C₂H₂ (trans, ³A_u) + H, (2) C₂H₃ (A²A″) → C₂H₂ (cis, ³A₂) + H, and (3) C₂H₃ (A²A″) → H₂CC (³A₂) + H. The CASSCF and CASPT2 potential energy curve calculations for the C₂H₃ (A²A″) dissociation channels (1)–(3) indicate that there is neither transition state nor intermediate for each of the channels. At the CASPT2//CASSCF/cc-pVTZ level, the dissociation energies for channels (1)–(3) are predicted to be 84.3, 91.1, and 86.9 kcal/mol, respectively. For a recently observed nonadiabatic dissociation of C₂H₃ (A²A″) into C₂H₂ (X¹Σ_g⁺) + H [J. Chem. Phys. 111 (1999) 3783], two previously suggested internal conversion (IC) pathways were examined based on our CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations. Our preliminary CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations indicate that the assumed IC pathway via the twisted C₂H₃ (A²A^′) structure might be feasible. The CASSCF/cc-pVTZ geometry optimization and frequency analysis calculations were performed for the four C_2v bridge structures in the ²B₂, ²A₂, ²B₁, and ²A₁ states along the pathways of the 1²A^′ (X²A^′), 1²A″ (A²A″), 2²A″, and 2²A^′ states of C₂H₃, respectively, and the CASPT2//CASSCF/cc-pVTZ energetic results indicate that the assumed IC pathway, via a C_2v (²A₂) structure and then ²A₂/²A₁ surface crossing, be not feasible since at their excitation wavelengths (327.4 and 366.2 nm) the C_2v (²A₂) structure could not be accessed.     

Synthese und reaktivität von dienylmetall-verbindungen : XXVII. Ein einfacher weg zur synthese von cyclopentadienylcobalt(III)-dikationen

CpCo(CO)₂ is oxidised by [Cp₂Fe]BF₄ (Cp = C₅H₅) in the presence of neutral ligands L to give the dications [CpCoL₃]²⁺ (L = SMe₂, S(n-C₄H₉)₂, PMe₃, C₅H₅N, MeCN; Me = CH₃). In [CpCo(SMe₂)₃]²⁺, sulfane ligands are substituted by neutral ligands L, L---L and L---L---L, to give the complexes [CpCoL₃]²⁺ (L = SeMe₂, TeMe₂, PMe₃, P(OMe)₃, AsMe₃, SbMe₃, t-C₄H₉NC, C₅H₅N, MeCN), [Cp-Co(L---L)SMe₂]²⁺ (L---L = R₂P(CH₂)_nPR₂, n = 1, 2, R = C₆H₅; bipyridine, o-phenanthroline, neocuproin) and [CpCo(L---L---L)]²⁺ (L---L---L = RP(CH₂CH₂PR₂)₂, R = C₆H₅). The dications react with iodide resulting in the monocations [CpCoL₂I]⁺ and [CpCo(L---L)I]⁺. Azacobaltocinium cations [CpCo(C₄R₂H₂N)]⁺ (R = H, CH₃) are obtained by reaction of [CpCo(SMe₂)₃]²⁺ with metal pyrrolides.     

Pathway studies in the fragmentation of Ge(CH3)4 involving Ge(3d,3p,3s) and C(1s) inner-shell photoexcitation in the range 49.5–450 eV

The dissociative multiple photoionization of tetramethylgermane (Ge(CH₃)₄) in the valence, and in the Ge(3d,3p,3s) and C(1s) inner-shell regions has been studied by using time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled to synchrotron radiation in the range 49.5–450 eV. Total and individual photoion yields have been recorded as a function of the incident photon energy. Several discrete resonances over a structureless giant resonance are observed below the Ge(3p), Ge(3s) and C(1s) threshold regions. The structureless giant resonance corresponding to the Ge(3d) presumably arises from the continuum enhancement caused by the 3d→εf transition. Various monocations of H⁺, H₂⁺, CH_n⁺ (n=0–4), C₂H_n⁺ (n=0–5), GeH_n⁺, GeCH_n⁺, GeC₂H_n⁺, and GeC₃H_n⁺ are detected in the whole energy range. Dissociation processes have also been investigated by photoelectron–photoion and photoion–photoion coincidence methods. The dominant dissociation channel is found to be CH_n⁺–GeCH_n⁺ in the whole energy examined. Specific energy dependence of dissociation processes is observed in the Ge(3p) and Ge(3s) regions. With the help of ab initio HF/6-311++G(2df,p) calculation, we roughly estimated the photoabsorption positions and symmetries for the discrete core hole states.     

Protonated ethanol and its neutral counterparts

Collisionally activated dissociation and neutralization-reionization experiments reveal that protonation of ethanol leads to two distinct isomers, the classical ion CH₃CH₂OH⁺₂ and the proton-bound complex C₂H₄…H⁺…OH₂. The neutral counterpart of the latter is unstable, whereas that of the former can be produced in a bound state if the CH₃CH₂OH⁺₂ precursor ion is formed under low ion source pressure conditions and, thus, with higher internal energies. This suggests that there are substantial differences in the geometries of CH₃CH₂OH⁺₂ and the hypervalent CH₃CH₂OH₂ ·. This provides only a partial explanation for unusual isotope effects; C₂H₅OD₂ ·, CH₃CD₂OD₂ ·, and CD₃CH₂OD₂ · are substantially more stable than C₂D₅OD₂ · and C₂H₅OH₂ ·.     

C1～C3正构醛、醇在质子转移反应飞行时间质谱中的产物离子特征分析

为分析C₁～C₃正构醛、 醇化合物在质子转移反应飞行时间质谱(PTR-TOF MS)中的产物离子特征, 考察了不同E/N值(E: 电场强度, N: 气体分子数密度)下C₁～C₃正构醛、 醇的产物离子种类和强度的变化. 结果表明, 低分子量正构醇类(甲醇、 乙醇和丙醇)倾向于形成质子化聚合物[nMH]⁺及其失水离子[nMH-H₂O]⁺, 且随着E/N值升高, 醇类会产生较多裂解碎片和多聚体离子. 低分子量正构醛(甲醛、 乙醛和丙醛)主要产生质子化产物[MH]⁺和一水合质子化产物[M·H₃O]⁺, 高E/N值(>125 Td)会抑制甲醛质子化, 也会抑制其加合产物的生成. 乙醛倾向于形成水加合物, 且随着E/N值增高, 质子化乙醛与一水合质子化乙醛的变化趋势相反. 另外, 丙醛在较高的E/N值下会产生一系列聚合物, 如[MH·C₂H₅]⁺和[2MH]⁺. 通过分析C₁～C₃正构醛、 醇的质子转移反应特征及产物离子形成过程, 获得了C₁～C₃正构醛、 醇的特征离子和对应的最佳E/N设置值, 为低分子量醛、 醇的定性分析提供了重要依据.     

The decomposition of C4H8 complexes at controlled internal energies

A coincidence technique is used to study the influence of the internal energy of the reactant ion on the cross section of the ion-molecule reactions in the C₂H₄⁺ + C₂H₄ system. The experiment is performed at thermal collision energies. In the ion-molecule reactions of C₂H₄⁺ + C₂H₄ our measurements indicate a barrier between the initially formed collision complex (C₂H₄)₂⁺* and a tight complex (C₄H₈⁺)*. Using an extension of our earlier developed statistical model, now including a potential barrier between the initially formed loose complex (C₂H₄)₂⁺* and the tight complex (C₄H₈⁺)*, our experimental data can be reproduced. For comparison also the internal energy dependence of the unimolecular decomposition of photoionised 1-C₄H₈⁺ is measured. Assuming that the photoionised 1-C₄H₈⁺ is identical with the tight (C₄H₈⁺)* complex, the model applied to the ion-molecule reactions describes also the unimolecular decay of 1-C₄H₈⁺ correctly, using the same set of parameters.     

Quadruple-stranded Eu-helicate Assembled from Bis-β-diketonate: Its Stability Towards Metal Ions

Herein, we reported the synthesis and investigation of highly luminescent quadruple-stranded helicate (C₆H₁₆N)₄[Eu₂(MBDA)₄]₂^.3C₄H₁₀O·4C₂H₃N(1-Eu)[H₂MBDA=N-methyl-4,4'-bis(4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3-dioxobutyl)di- phenylamine] for its stability toward metal ions in the solution. The material was characterized via X-ray crystallographic technique, Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy and electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of- flight(ESI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The results on the luminescence quantum yields clearly demonstrate that the ligand can effectively sensitize the luminescence of the Eu³⁺ ions(Φ_overall=15%). Upon the addition of different metal ions(i. e., Ag⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³⁺ and Ni²⁺) to the CH₃CN solution of compound 1-Eu, the emission intensities of Eu³⁺ ions at 612 nm were affected to some extent, which could be attributed to the presence of ion exchanges between Eu³⁺ ions and the metals ions, and the result was confirmed by ESI-TOF mass spectrometry.     

Spectres infrarouges et structure des anions 2-methylallyle, CH3-C(CH2)2- et triméthylèneméthane, C(CH2)3

The infrared spectra of solid samples of C₄H₇K and C₄D₇K have been investigated in the 4000 to 30 cm⁻¹ range. A complete assignment of intramolecular fundamentals of C₄H₇⁻ and C₄D₇⁻ ions and of potassium-allyl vibrations is proposed and the intramolecular force constants are calculated. The C(CH₂)₃²⁻ anion has been identified spectroscopically. Structures of C₃H₅⁻, C₄H₇⁻ and C(CH₃)₃²⁻ are discussed and compared with those optimised by the MINDO/3 method.     

阴离子插层镁铝水滑石结构及相互作用的理论研究

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)计算了MgAl-LDHs层板与无机阴离子(F^-、Cl^-、NO₃^-、CO₃^2-、SO₄^2-)和有机阴离子(水杨酸根离子([HO(C₆H₄)COO]^-)、苯甲酸根离子([(C₆H₅)COO]^-)、对二甲氨基苯甲酸根离子([p-(CH₃)₂N(C₆H₄)COO]^-)、十二烷基磺酸根离子[C₁₂H₂₅SO₃]^-、己烷基磺酸根离子[C₆H₁₃SO₃]^-、丙烷基磺酸根离子[C₃H₇SO₃]^-)间的相互作用,获得稳定超分子几何结构及相互作用能。层板主体与客体间存在较强的超分子作用,包括主客体间静电作用和氢键等。主、客体间相互作用能数值大小顺序为CO₃^2- > SO₄^2- > F^-> Cl^-> NO₃^-;[p-(CH₃)₂N(C₆H₄)COO]^-> [(C₆H₅)COO]^-> [HO(C₆H₄)COO]^-和[C₁₂H₂₅SO₃]^-> [C₆H₁₃SO₃]^- > [C₃H₇SO₃]^-。另外,还采用自然键轨道(NBO)计算和分析了LDHs 层板与阴离子间作用机理,从二阶微扰理论计算得到的稳定化能变化趋势与相互作用能数据基本吻合。     

Theoretical Studies on Aromaticity of Spiro Metallaaromatics of (C10H10M)2-(M=Ni,Pd, Pt)

Aiming to identify the spiro metallaaromatic systems with potential application value, (C₁₀H₁₀M)^2?(M=Ni, Pd, Pt) derivatives were theoretically investigated. (C₁₀H₁₀M)^2?-Iso1, which has two 6-membered rings(6MRs) connected by the M spiro atom, is a 14π-aromatic as a whole plane. (C₁₀H₁₀M)^2?-Iso2 has one 6π-aromatic 5MR and one 10π-aromatic 7MR connected by the spiro atom. The free (C₁₀H₁₀M)^2? dianions could not exist due to their rather high frontier orbital energies, while the neutral (C₁₀H₁₀M)Li₂ compounds are extremely stable against dissociation. Since (C₁₀H₁₀M)Li₂ coumponds are not fully coordinated, they trend to form (C₁₀H₁₀M)Li₄²⁺ dications, or even[(C₁₀H₁₀M)Li₂]_n polymers. Arguably, (C₁₀H₁₀M)^2? planes are not the only examples for spiro metallaaromaticity, their derivatives are also potential material building blocks.     

Ab initio CCSD(T) and MRD-CI study of excited states and the electronic spectrum of linear C5

Large-scale ab initio coupled cluster and multi-reference configuration interaction calculations (MRD-CI) are carried out to determine the equilibrium geometry and the vertical electronic spectrum of linear C₅⁺. Contrary to prior theoretical estimates we find three low-lying states within an energy range of 0.3 eV: ²Σ_u⁺, ²Σ_g⁺ and ²Π_g and a symmetric arrangement of nuclei. Transitions from ²Σ_u⁺ to these low-lying states are dipole-allowed; sizeable oscillator strengths are computed for the ²Π⁺_g←X²Σ_u⁺ transition at 2.62 eV and the ²Σ_g←X²Σ_u⁺ transition at 3.36 eV and should give a guide to spectroscopic identification of linear C₅⁺.     

Gas-phase synthesis and the structural and electronic properties of C60S studied by mass spectrometry and molecular orbital calculation

C₆₀S⁺ was synthesized through the gas-phase ion-molecule reaction of C₆₀ with the plasmas of carbon disulfide under self-chemical-ionization (self-CI) conditions in the ion source of a mass spectrometer. Semi-empirical PM3-UHF and density functional B3LYP levels of theory with 6-31G(d) basis set calculations were performed on all the possible structures and electronic properties of the product. The results showed that the most stable structure among the possible isomers was the 6/6 closed derivative. The reaction energies of C₆₀+S⁺→C₆₀S⁺ and C₆₀+S→C₆₀S were also calculated to suggest the possibility of C₆₀S synthesis in condensed phase.     

溴代烷烃与活性氮的反应发光研究

在流动余辉装置上, 利用N₂空心阴极放电制备活性氮, 研究了活性氮与溴代烷烃(CHBr₃、CH₂Br₂、C₂H₅Br、C₄H₉Br) 反应的化学发光.上述所有反应中, 在550～750 nm波段均观察到了较强的NBr (b¹Σ+→X³Σ^-)跃迁发射谱. 同时在活性氮与CHBr₃和CH₂Br₂的反应中, 在流动管下游还观察到了CN (A²π, B²π→X²Σ⁺)的发射谱. 验证性的实验表明, 激发态NBr (b¹Σ⁺)是由二步过程形成: N(⁴S)与溴代烷烃反应生成NBr (X³Σ^-), 再通过N₂ (A ³Σ_u⁺)分子能量转移到激发态NBr (b¹Σ⁺); 而激发态的CN是通过N(⁴S) + CBr→CN(A, B) + Br过程形成的.     

Formation of [C60C5H5] adduct cations and theoretical study of the isomers

We study here the reactions between C₆₀ and planar C₅H₅⁺ cations that lead to the formation of [C₆₀C₅H₅]⁺ adduct cations in the chemical ionization source of the mass spectrometer. The structures, stabilities and charge locations of some possible isomers of [C₆₀C₅H₅]⁺: σ-adduct, π-complex, [1,4]- and [l,2]-addition cations, are studied by AM1 semiempirical molecular orbital calculations. We find that the most stable is the σ-addition cation. Another interesting and stable structure is the π-complex cation which is bonded by the electrostatic interaction at the inter-ring distance of 1.589 Å with the C_5v symmetry. The C₅H₅⁺ cyclopentadienium cation seems to be an “inverted umbrella” sitting on a five-membered ring of the C₆₀ cage.     

Collisions of slow polyatomic ions with surfaces: The scattering method and results

Surface-induced dissociation (SID) and reactions following impact of well-defined ion beams of polyatomic cations C₂H₅OH⁺, CH₄⁺, and CH₅⁺ (and its deuterated variants) at several incident angles and energies with self-assembled monolayers (SAM), carbon surfaces, and hydrocarbon covered stainless steel were investigated by the scattering method. Energy transfer and partitioning of the incident projectile energy into internal excitation of the projectile, translational energy of products, and energy transferred into the surface were deduced from the mass spectra and the translational energy and angular distributions of the product ions. Conversion of ion impact energy into internal energy of the recoiling ions peaked at about 17% of the incident energy for the perfluoro-hydrocarbon SAM, and at about 6% for the other surfaces investigated. Ion survival probability is about 30–50 times higher for closed-shell ions than for open-shell radical cations (e.g., 12% for CD₅⁺ versus 0.3% for CD₄⁺, at the incident angle of 60° with respect to the surface normal). Contour velocity plots for inelastic scattering of CD₅⁺ from hydrocarbon-coated and hydrocarbon-free highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces gave effective masses of the surface involved in the scattering event, approximately matching that of an ethyl group (or two methyl groups) and four to five carbon atoms, respectively. Internal energy effects in impacting ions on SID were investigated by comparing collision energy resolved mass spectra (CERMS) of methane ions generated in a low pressure Nier-type electron impact source versus those generated in a Colutron source in which ions undergo many collisions prior to extraction and are essentially vibrationally relaxed. This comparison supports the hypothesis that internal energy of incident projectile ions is fully available to drive their dissociation following surface impact.     

多次碰撞条件下金阳离子诱导的甲烷碳―碳偶联

The reactivity of atomic metal cations toward CH₄ has been extensively investigated over the past decades. Closed-shell metal cations in electronically ground states are usually inert with CH₄ under thermal collision conditions because of the extremely high stability of methane. With the elevation of collision energies, closed-shell atomic gold cations (Au⁺) have been reported to react with CH₄ under single-collision conditions to produce AuCH₂⁺, AuH⁺, and AuCH₃⁺ species. Further investigations found that the ion-source-generated AuCH₂⁺ cations can react with CH₄ to synthesize C―C coupling products. These previous studies suggested that new products for the reaction of Au⁺ with CH₄ can be identified under multiple-collision conditions with sufficient collision energies. However, the reported ion-molecule reactions involving methane were usually performed under single- or multiple-collision conditions with thermal collision energies. In this study, a new reactor composed of a drift tube and ion funnel is constructed and coupled with a homemade reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Laser-ablation-generated Au⁺ ions are injected into the reactor and drift 120 mm to react with methane seeded in the helium drift gas. The reaction products and unreacted Au⁺ ions are focused through the ion funnel and accumulate through a linear ion trap and are then detected by a mass spectrometer. In the reactor, the pressure is approximately 100 Pa, and the electric field between the drift tube and ion funnel can regulate the collision energies between ions and molecules. The reaction of the closed-shell atomic Au⁺ cation with CH₄ is investigated, and the C―C coupling product AuC₂H₄⁺ is observed under multiple-collision conditions with elevated collision energies. Density functional theory calculations are performed to understand the mechanism of the coupling reaction (Au⁺+ 2CH₄ → AuC₂H₄⁺ + 2H₂). Two pathways involving Au―CH₂ and Au―CH₃ species can separately mediate the C―C coupling process. The activation of the second C―H bond in each process requires additional energy to overcome the relatively high barrier (2.07 and 2.29 eV). Ion-trajectory simulations under multiple-collision conditions are then conducted to determine the collisional energy distribution in the reactor. These simulations confirmed that the electric fields between the drift tube and ion funnel could supply sufficient center-of-mass kinetic energies to facilitate the C―C coupling process to form AuC₂H₄⁺. The following catalytic cycle could then be postulated: $\mathrm{AuC}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}^{+}+\mathrm{CH}_{4} \stackrel{\Delta}{\longrightarrow} \mathrm{AuCH}_{4}^{+}+\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}, \mathrm{AuCH}_{4}^{+}+\mathrm{CH}_{4} \stackrel{\Delta}{\longrightarrow} \mathrm{AuC}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}^{+}+2 \mathrm{H}_{2}$, and $\mathrm{CH}_{4} \stackrel{\mathrm{Au}^{+}, \Delta}{\longrightarrow} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}+2 \mathrm{H}_{2}$. Thus, this study enriches the chemistry of both gold and methane.     

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⁺.