Infrared Spectra of Magnesium Hydride Molecules, Complexes, and Solid Magnesium Dihydride

Infrared Spectra and Electronic Structure Calculations for the Group 2 Metal M(OH)2 Dihydroxide Molecules

Reactions of laser-ablated Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba atoms with O2 and H2 in excess argon give new absorptions in the O-H and O-M-O stretching regions, which increase together upon UV photolysis and are due to the M(OH)2 molecules (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba). The same product absorptions are observed in the metal atom reactions with H2O2. The M(OH)2 identifications are supported by isotopic substitution and theoretical calculations (B3LYP and MP2). The O-H stretching frequencies of the alkaline earth metal dihydroxide molecules decrease from 3829.8 to 3784.6 to 3760.6 to 3724.2 cm(-1) in the family series in solid argon, while the base strength of the solid compounds increases. Calculations show that Sr(OH)2 and Ba(OH)2 are bent at the metal center, owing to d orbital involvement in the bonding. Although these molecules are predominantly ionic, the O-H stretching frequencies do not reach the ionic limit of gaseous OH- going down the family group because of cation-anion polarization and p(pi) --> d(pi) interactions.

One-Dimensional BeH2 Polymers: Infrared Spectra and Theoretical Calculations

Laser-ablated beryllium atoms react with H2 upon co-condensation in excess hydrogen and neon to form BeH2 and (BeH2)2, which are identified through isotopic substitution and DFT calculations. Unreacted Be atoms isolated in solid neon or hydrogen are excited to the 1P0 state and react further with H2 to enhance the BeH2 and (BeH2)2 concentrations and produce (BeH2)n polymers. The series of strong infrared-active parallel Be-H-Be bridge-bond stretching modes observed for (BeH2)n polymers suggests one-dimensional structures, and this conclusion is supported by DFT calculations. The computed polymerization energy per BeH2 unit is about 33 kcal/mol.