Structure of Mn₂(CO)₁₀ and Mn₂(CO)₉: Insights from ab initio calculations

Optimization of the Mn–Mn distance in Mn 2 (CO) 10 with various basis sets of at least doublezeta quality results in Mn–Mn bond lengths in the range of 3.07–3.15 Å, 0.2–0.25 Å longer than the experimental value of 2.895 Å. Incrementing the basis set with diffuse p functions (exponent 0.0332) on the carbon atoms improves the calculated bond length to a value of 2.876 Å at the CI level, as a consequence of a charge transfer between each Mn atom and the equatorial carbonyls of the other Mn atom. For Mn 2 (CO) 9 four structures have been studied at the SCF and CI levels with assumed geometries. The structure with a symmetric bridging carbonyl turns to be much higher in energy at the SCF level. The two structures which are purely metal–metal bonded [corresponding to the departure of an axial or equatorial carbonyl from Mn 2 (CO) 10 ] are nearly degenerate in energy and more stable than the structure with a semibridging carbonyl by 5 kcal/mol at the SCF level and 10–11 kcal/mol at the CI level (seemingly at variance with the conclusions of matrix experiments that favor the semibridging structure).