Electronic structure of the octachlorodimolybdenum(II) anion using X-ray emission and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies

X-ray emission (Mo Lβ_{2, 15} and Cl Kβ_{1, 3}) and X-ray photoelectron spectra from K₄ Mo₂ Cl₈] have been combined to give a detailed picture of the electronic structure of the octachlorodimolybdenum(II) anion. Chlorine 3p orbitals form a relatively narrow band which has the same range of ionization energies as the more tightly bound orbitals with molybdenum 4d character. The molecular orbitals of the MoMo quadruple bond can be identified as well as those involved in MoCl bond formation and Cl non-bonding orbitals.