Chalcogenide-halides of niobium (V). 1. Gas-phase structures of NbOBr(3), NbSBr(3), and NbSCl(3). 2. Matrix infrared spectra and vibrational force fields of NbOBr(3), NbSBr(3), NbSCl(3), and NbOCl(3)

The molecular structures of NbOBr(3), NbSCl(3), and NbSBr(3) have been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) at nozzle-tip temperatures of 250 degrees C, taking into account the possible presence of NbOCl(3) as a contaminant in the NbSCl(3) sample and NbOBr(3) in the NbSBr(3) sample. The experimental data are consistent with trigonal-pyramidal molecules having C(3)(v)() symmetry. Infrared spectra of molecules trapped in argon or nitrogen matrices were recorded and exhibit the characteristic fundamental stretching modes for C(3)(v)() species. Well resolved isotopic fine structure ((35)Cl and (37)Cl) was observed for NbSCl(3), and for NbOCl(3) which occurred as an impurity in the NbSCl(3) spectra. Quantum mechanical calculations of the structures and vibrational frequencies of the four YNbX(3) molecules (Y = O, S; X = Cl, Br) were carried out at several levels of theory, most importantly B3LYP DFT with either the Stuttgart RSC ECP or Hay-Wadt (n + 1) ECP VDZ basis set for Nb and the 6-311G basis set for the nonmetal atoms. Theoretical values for the bond lengths are 0.01-0.04 A longer than the experimental ones of type r(a), in accord with general experience, but the bond angles with theoretical minus experimental differences of only 1.0-1.5 degrees are notably accurate. Symmetrized force fields were also calculated. The experimental bond lengths (r(g)/A) and angles ( 90 degree angle (alpha)()/deg) with estimated 2sigma uncertainties from GED are as follows. NbOBr(3): r(Nb=O) = 1.694(7), r(Nb-Br) = 2.429(2), 90 degree angle (O=Nb-Br) = 107.3(5), 90 degree angle (Br-Nb-Br) = 111.5(5). NbSBr(3): r(Nb=S) = 2.134(10), r(Nb-Br) = 2.408(4), 90 degree angle (S=Nb-Br) = 106.6(7), 90 degree angle (Br-Nb-Br) = 112.2(6). NbSCl(3): r(Nb=S) = 2.120(10),r(Nb-Cl) = 2.271(6), 90 degree angle (S=Nb-Cl) = 107.8(12), 90 degree angle (Cl-Nb-Cl) = 111.1(11).