A TDDFT study of some dinuclear compounds containing CpM(CO)3 or CpM(CO)2 groups

The electronic structure and spectroscopy of some representative dinuclear compounds containing CpM(CO)3 and CpM(CO)2 groups were studied using TDDFT (Time Dependent Density Functional Theory). These compounds contain Cp (cyclopentadienyl) as a ligand, and M can be Cr, Mo or W. Their main electronic transitions were calculated and the results are in good agreement with the experimental data. This allows the assignment of some bands whose origin was not clear. In all the cases, the carbonyls and Cp groups restrict the symmetry. The molecular orbitals that would be involved in M-M bonding interact strongly with the carbonyls and show unusual shapes and occupations. The strongest electronic bands are caused by σ→σ* transitions in most of the molecules containing CpM(CO)3 groups, whereas in molecules such as Cp(CO)2M≡M(CO)2Cp the most intense bands are produced by π→π* transitions. The origin of other bands is now explained. The effect of the solvent on the electronic transitions and the use of EOM-CCSD method in some compounds were also checked.