Optimized structures of Cr2(CO)6+ with three different symmetries by density functional calculation

Density functional calculations have been made on a binuclear metal carbonyl ion Cr₂(CO)₆⁺ found in our laser ablation–molecular beam (LAMB) experiment. Optimized structures are calculated for three different conformations: T33 of D_3d symmetry with three terminal carbonyl groups on each chromium atom, B2T22 of D_2h symmetry with two bridging carbonyl groups and two terminal carbonyl groups on each chromium atom, and B4T11 of D_4h symmetry with four bridging carbonyl groups and one terminal carbonyl group on each chromium atom. The most stable conformation is T33 which is 36.76 and 286.44 kJ mol⁻¹ lower in energy than B2T22 and B4T11, respectively. The difference of conformation exerts a significant influence on the internuclear distance between chromium and the carbon of terminal CO, but hardly on the Cr–Cr bond length. For B2T22 and B4T11, longer C–O distances for bridging carbonyls compared with those for terminal ones indicate effective π*-back donation from the chromium atom to the bridging carbonyl groups. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Cr₂(CO)_n⁺ (n = 0–6) observed in our previous experimental study can be explained qualitatively by comparison of the excess energy produced in the formation of a Cr⁺–Cr bond with the CO dissociation energy of Cr₂(CO)₆⁺. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.