On nd bonding in the transition metal trimers: comparison of Sc3 and Y3

CASSCF/CCI calculations are presented for the low-lying states of Y₃. Comparison of the wave functions for Y₃ and Sc₃ indicates substantial 4d-5p hybridization in Y₃, but little 3d-4p hybridization in Sc₃. The increased 4d-5p hybridization leads to stabilization of 4d bonding with respect to 4d bonding for equilateral triangle Y₃, and also leads to 4d-5p bonding for linear geometries. These effects lead to a different ordering of states for equilateral triangle geometries and a smaller excitation energy to the linear configuration for Y₃ as compared to Sc₃.