Theoretical investigations of the spin Hamiltonian parameters for the CoCl(PPh3)3 molecules

The perturbation formulas of the spin Hamiltonian parameters (zero-field splitting and g factor g_// and g_⊥) are established for a 3d⁸ ion in trigonally distorted tetrahedra for the first time. In the theoretical treatments, the contributions from the Jahn–Teller effect, the ligand orbital and spin–orbit coupling interactions and configuration interactions are taken into account from the cluster approach in a uniform way. The above formulas are applied to the studies of the spin Hamiltonian parameters for the three CoCl(PPh₃)₃ molecules, and the experimental electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of all the molecules are satisfactorily explained. The significant compressions of the ligand tetrahedra with mixed chlorine and PPh₃ groups around Co⁺ are analysed for three distinct CoCl(PPh₃)₃ compounds, characterised by the Cl–Co–P bond angles θ larger than the tetrahedral angle of 109.47°. The local trigonal distortions are discussed in view of the Jahn–Teller effect.