Jahn-Teller distortion in the SnH4+ ion

The extension of the Jahn-Teller distortion of the SnH₄⁺ structure is estimated from ab initio SCF CI calculations using pseudopotential atomic approximation with and without relativistic correction. These calculations show the lowest minima of SnH₄⁺ to have C_2v symmetry and are very close to the C_3v minima. The calculated photoelectron spectrum of SnH₄ is in good agreement with the experimental values.