PNNL

Abstract

Re2Cl82-, the classical metal complex with a metal-metal multiple bond, was observed in the gas phase for the first time using electrospray. Photodetachment photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) was used to probe its electronic structure, metal-metal bonding, and gas phase molecular properties. The PES spectra provide a unique and direct picture about the occupied molecular orbitals (MO's) of Re2Cl82-. Detachments from the metal-metal and metal-ligand bonding MO's were clearly observed and distinguished. We found that the metal-metal bonding MO's from the d orbitals have low binding energies and yielded three well resolved detachment bands.