Bond electron pair: its relevance and analysis from the quantum chemistry point of view

This paper first comments on the surprisingly poor status that Quantum Chemistry has offered to the fantastic intuition of Lewis concerning the distribution of the electrons in the molecule. Then, it advocates in favor of a hierarchical description of the molecular wave-function, distinguishing the physics taking place in the valence space (in the bond and between the bonds), and the dynamical correlation effects. It is argued that the clearest pictures of the valence electronic population combine two localized views, namely the bond (and lone pair) Molecular Orbitals and the Valence Bond decomposition of the wave-function, preferably in the orthogonal version directly accessible from the complete active space self consistent field method. Such a reading of the wave function enables one to understand the work of the nondynamical correlation as an enhancement of the weight of the low-energy VB components, i.e. as a better compromise between the electronic delocalization and the energetic preferences of the atoms. It is suggested that regarding the bond building, the leading dynamical correlation effect may be the dynamical polarization phenomenon. It is shown that most correlation effects do not destroy the bond electron pairs and remain compatible with Lewis' vision. A certain number of free epistemological considerations have been introduced in the development of the argument

Crystal-Field Parameters of Mononuclear Lanthanoid Sandwich Complexes

De begeleider en/of auteur heeft geen toestemming gegeven tot het openbaar maken van de scriptie. The supervisor and/or the author did not authorize public publication of the thesis.

Localized orbitals in a Multi-Reference context

Variational and Perturbative CAS-SCF-type algorithms based on molecular orbitals that preserve their physical nature during the iterative process are discussed. The methods are based on the iterative diagonalization of the one-body reduced density matrix. If localized guess orbitals are used, the locality property is kept by the final orbitals. The formalism can be used to reduce the number of active orbitals in CAS-SCF calculations on large systems, and in general to have a better control on the physical nature of the active space. The reduction from a complete to selected reference space is also possible in the case of Configuration-Interaction calculations

The use of local orbitals in multireference calculations

CAS-SCF-type algorithms based on molecular orbitals that preserve their physical nature during the iterative process have been proposed recently by our groups. Our approach is based on the iterative partial diagonalization of the one-body reduced density matrix. If localized guess orbitals are used, the locality property is kept by the final orbitals. The use of local orbitals in multiference calculations has several advantages. It can be used to reduce the number of active orbitals in CAS-SCF calculations on large systems, and in general to have a better control on the physical nature of the active space. The reduction from a complete to a selected reference space is also possible in the case of configuration interaction calculations. The technique is illustrated through applications to the description of bond breaking and n->pi* excited states in conjugated systems. The efficiency of selection of local excitations is shown on a magnetic complex

Local orbitals for quasi-degenerate systems

A CAS-SCF algorithm based on molecular orbitals that conserve their physical character during the iterative process has been developed. The method is based on the iterative partial diagonalization of the one-body density matrix, obtained from a Configuration Interaction restricted to the space of single excitations from the CAS. When localized guess orbitals are used, the locality property is conserved for the final orbitals. This localization technique is particularly suitable for the treatment of quasi-degenerated systems, since it can be applied to those cases that cannot be correctly described at SCF level. For large systems, the use of localized active orbitals leads to a huge reduction of the computational effort, and permits MR-CI treatments that would be out of the possibilities of the standard delocalized approaches

Derivation of spin Hamiltonians from the exact Hamiltonian: Application to systems with two unpaired electrons per magnetic site

The foundations and limits of S=1/2 and S=1 spin Hamiltonians for systems with two unpaired electrons in two well-defined orbitals per site are discussed by merging accurate ab initio calculations in binuclear systems with the effective Hamiltonian theory. It is shown that, beyond the usual JijSi.Sj terms, the effective spin Hamiltonian necessarily introduces four-body spin operators in the S=1/2 case and biquadratic terms in the S=1 formalism. The order of magnitude of these additional terms can be rationalized from a quasidegenerate perturbation theory expansion starting from a Hubbard-type Hamiltonian. This permits to discuss the physical mechanisms governing the reduction from the all electron Hamiltonian to the spin-only Hamiltonians and the conditions under which a further reduction from a spin Hamiltonian to the simplest Heisenberg-Dirac-Van Vleck form is possible. The overall discussion is illustrated by numerical calculations of the magnetic coupling between two Ni2+ cations in the K2NiF4 perovskite and between triply bonded carbon atoms in poly-ynes

Discrete dinuclear cyano-bridged complexes

The cyano-bridged complexes [L14CoIIINCFeII(CN)5]-, [L14CoIIINCFeIII(CN)5], [L15CoIIINCFeII(CN)5]-, and [L15CoIIINCFeIII(CN)5] (L14 = 6-methyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecan-6- amine, L15 = 10-methyl-1,4,8,12-tetraazacyclopentadecan-10-amine) are prepared and characterized both structurally and spectroscopically. In each complex, the pendant amine is trans to the bridging CN ligand, as determined by spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography: Na(trans-[L14CoIIINCFeII(CN)5]).8H2O, monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, a = 15.58(1) A, b = 19.797(4) A, c = 19.830(6) A, beta = 91.62(4) degrees, Z = 8; trans-[L14CoIIINCFeIII(CN)5].4H2O, monoclinic space group P2(1)/m, a = 9.9690(9) A, b = 13.316(1) A, c = 10.1180(8) A, beta = 90.720(6) degrees, Z = 2; [L15CoIIINCFeIII(CN)5].4H2O, triclinic space group P1, a = 9.454(1) A, b = 9.778(1) A, c = 9.865(2) A, alpha = 60.37(1) degrees, beta = 62.60(1) degrees, gamma = 65.82(1) degrees, Z = 1. A precursor to the 14-membered macrocyclic complexes is prepared for the first time, and its crystal structure is also reported: trans-I [CoL14Cl](ClO4)2, orthorhombic space group Pbca, a = 11.833(3) A, b = 13.363(2) A, c = 26.015(2) A, Z = 8. These compounds form part of a novel series of discrete CN-bridged dinuclear compounds. The mixed-valent CoIII-FeII compounds exhibit metal-to-metal charge-transfer (MMCT) transitions in the region 510-530 nm