Hydrogen-bonded complexes involving HF and HCl: the effects of electron correlation and anharmonicity

Calculations on the hydrogen-bonded complexes HCNHF, H₂OHF, ClCNHCl and (CH₃)₂OHCl are reported. SCF harmonic values for the HF and HCl frequency shifts are in considerable disagreement with experiment, by as much as 100 cm^–1. Calculations at the MP2 (harmonic) level yield improved agreement with experiment, reducing discrepancies to the order of 10 cm^–1. We have also calculated all the cubic and quartic force constants for HCNHF at the SCF level, so that the anharmonic constants, x _rs can be evaluated. Although x ₁₁ (v ₁=H-F stretch) is large and negative, it is more than compensated by a positive x ₁₆ (v ₆=NH-F bend), so that the anharmonic correction to v ₁ is small and positive. The validity of these anharmonistudies is examined.