Pseudopotential, MC-SCF and limited CI calculations on nickel-bis-dithiolene

Abstract

The pseudopotential method is used to perform multiconfigurational (MC) SCF and full valence configuration interaction (CI) calculations on the dianion of nickel-bis-dithiolene, [Ni(S 2C 2H 2) 2] 2−. Both a planar (D 2h) and a near tetrahedral (D 2d) conformation are considered. Charge distributions are calculated, yielding a charge on Ni of 0.22 in the planar and 0.57 in the tetrahedral case. The experimental ground state, the planar 1Ag state, approaches a 3d 9 configuration on Ni (the d-population equals 8.87), while the nickel 3d-population of all other calculated states ranges from 8.35 to 8.69. The single d—d excitation spectrum for the planar complex is discussed, and the first transition is computed to be 1Ag → 1B 1g. Intramolecular rotation, i.e., one ligand ring rotating with respect to the other, is also discussed. The rotation is proposed to occur via a tetrahedral triplet intermediate since the relevant singlet tetrahedral state is estimated to lie more than 1 eV higher than the triplet intermediate. The discussion of the intramolecular rotation is made difficult by an error in the calculated singlet—triplet splittings. Possible causes of this error are pointed out.