Influence of Resonance Interactions and Matrix Environment on the Spectra of SF6 Dimers in Low-Temperature Nitrogen Matrixes. Theory and Experiment

Stretching force constants as descriptors of energy and geometry of F···HF hydrogen bonds

In this work applicability of proton donor group stretching vibration force constants k_s and intermolecular stretching force constants k_σ for evaluations of hydrogen bond strength and geometry are discussed. For a set of 30 complexes with F···HF hydrogen bonds in a wide range 0.5-48 kcal/mol by means of quantum chemical calculations equilibrium geometries, complexation energies, vibrational frequencies and corresponding force constants were calculated (MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ). It is shown, that properties of a hydrogen bond are more strictly correlated with the values of force constants than with vibrational frequencies. Easy-to-use equations for estimations of hydrogen bond energy ∆E and geometry (r_FH, r_FF) based on k_s and k_σ values are proposed.

Infrared Studies of the Symmetry Changes of the 28SiH4 Molecule in Low-Temperature Matrixes. Fundamental, Combination, and Overtone Transitions

Infrared spectra of ²⁸SiH₄ in argon and nitrogen matrixes at low temperature 6.5-20 K in the region of overtone and combination transitions were recorded for the first time. Additionally, the high-resolution spectra were obtained in the fundamental region. The frequencies and the relative intensities of all bands were determined. The set of experimental data suggests that the symmetry of molecules studied in the matrixes is different from the symmetry of the free molecules because of an interaction with the environment. The symmetry of ²⁸SiH₄ changes from T_d to C_3v on transition from the gas phase to a nitrogen matrix and to D_2d on transition to an argon matrix. A modeling of SiH₄ molecule force fields explains the experimental data as a change of a force constant of the selected SiH bond in the case of SiH₄ in the nitrogen matrix or force constants of two opposite angles in the case of SiH₄ in the argon matrix. In spite of small values of these changes, they result in noticeable spectroscopic effects: the band splitting and appearance of new bands in matrix spectra compared with spectra of free SiH₄. The interpretation of transitions in the fundamental and combination regions was performed.

Theoretical Characterization of the Minimum-Energy Structure of (SF6)2

MP2 and symmetry-adapted perturbation theory calculations are used in conjunction with the aug-cc-pVQZ basis set to characterize the SF6 dimer. Both theoretical methods predict the global minimum structure to be of C2 symmetry, lying 0.07-0.16 kJ/mol below a C2h saddle point structure, which, in turn, is predicted to lie energetically 0.4-0.5 kJ/mol below the lowest-energy D2d structure. This is in contrast with IR spectroscopic studies that infer an equilibrium D2d structure. It is proposed that the inclusion of vibrational zero-point motion gives an averaged structure of D2d symmetry.

Infrared spectra and structures of SiH₄ and GeH₄ dimers in low-temperature nitrogen matrixes

IR absorption spectra of monoisotopic silane (28)SiH4 and germane (76)GeH4 are studied in nitrogen matrixes at T = 11 K. It is shown that the absorption spectra of silane and germane are similar in the regions of the ν3 stretching and ν4 bending vibrations. A significant influence of a nitrogen matrix on the absorption spectra of XH4 molecules was established. The bands in the ν3 region of silane and germane in a nitrogen matrix are blue-shifted. The spectra of monomer molecules of SiH4 and GeH4 contain a triplet in the stretching region and a doublet in the bending region, which is explained by the change in the molecular symmetry of an XH4 molecule from T(d) to C3 on passage from the gas phase to solid nitrogen. The calculations of the matrix structure were made by the Monte Carlo method with the ensemble of particles containing the SiH4 molecule and 863 N2 molecules. The calculations predicted a set of equilibrium structures with the C3 symmetry. The structure of the absorption bands of the dimer is analyzed in the ν3 stretching and ν4 bending regions. The intensity of these absorption bands increases quadratically with concentration. The contribution of resonance dipole-dipole interactions in the formation of the absorption bands of (XH4)2 dimers in the ν3 stretching and ν4 bending regions is discussed.