Structural peculiarities and the possibility of the existence of small water cluster anions (H2O) n − withn≤4

Structures of (H₂O) _n ⁻ anions withn≤4 were optimized at the UHF/4-31++G^** level and their stability was estimated at the MP2/4-31++G^** level. The trimer anion has a chain-like structure while the tetramer anion can exist either in a chain-like or a cyclic configuration. In the dimer anion and in the chain-like anions, the excess electron density is localized on the terminal water molecule, an acceptor of the H-bond proton. In the cyclic anion, it is uniformly distributed over the free hydrogen atoms. All considered anions have energy values higher than those of the corresponding neutral oligomers. The detachment of an electron from the anions should proceed with the liberation of energy. However, trimer and larger anions are stable against dissociation into individual water molecules and a free electron. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 41–46, January, 1997.