Charge transfer and dispersion interaction stabilization of the D2h isomer of O4

The results of some minimal basis set valence bond calculations, with an antibonding midbond molecular orbital (π_m*) included, are reported for the D_2h isomer of O₄. The in-plane π_m*←π* excitations describe the charge transfer from each monomer, while the π*←π excitations on each monomer partially describe the intermolecular dispersive attractions. It is found that the charge-transfer interactions by themselves are insufficient to stabilize the S=0 spin D_2h dimer of O₄ relative to two O₂ monomers when a correction is included for basis set superposition error. The inclusion of both the charge transfer and dispersion terms yields an estimate of 14 cm⁻¹ for the binding energy (D_e) at an equilibrium separation (R_e) of 3.29 Å. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 68: 129–134, 1998