Ab initio structural study of M(mda)2 complexes (M = Be,Mg, Ca; mda = C3O2H3)

The structure of M(mda)₂ (M = Be, Mg, Ca; mda = C₃O₂H₃) bis-complexes was investigated by the ab initio Hartree-Fock method and by including electron correlation in terms of second order Möller-Plesset perturbation theory; for calculations we used triple-zeta valence basis sets complemented with polarization functions. Two most probable geometrical nuclear configurations (D_2h and D_2d) are considered for each molecule. The structure with two mutually orthogonal chelate ligands (D_2d symmetry) corresponds to the potential energy surface (PES) minimum. The planar D_2h configuration corresponds to the first order saddle point on PES; consequently, its relative energy determines the height of the barrier to the D_2dD_2hD_2d intramolecular rearrangement. Correlation equations that relate the calculated values of equilibrium internuclear distances, force constants, and rearrangement barrier heights to the value of the ionic radius of the metal atom have been obtained. These correlations were employed to evaluate the molecular constants for Sr(mda)₂ and Ba(mda)₂. The theoretical data are compared with the available experimental literature data.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by V. V. Sliznev, S. B. Lapshina, and G. V. GirichevTranslated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 611–623, July–August, 2004This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.