Bonding modes in the analogous and isoelectronic group VB/VA compounds As(O)Cl3 and Nb(O)Cl3. An ultraviolet photoelectron-spectroscopic and SCC-Xα study
Abstract
The He Iα photoelectron spectra of gaseous ‘non-existent’ As(O)Cl3 and of Nb(O)Cl3 have been compared and assigned using the SCC-Xα method. In order to confirm the interpretation, correlations with the known ionization potentials of isomorphous P(O)Cl3 and V(O)Cl3, respectively, are considered. Differences in bonding modes are discussed and illustrated with respect to the SCC-Xα population analyses, to the relative central atomic orbital contributions, to the atomic energy levels and to the experimental ionization energies of the parent AsCl3 and PCl3.