Fundamental vibrational frequencies of pnictogen (Pn) containing linear triatomic anions: OCPn- and SCPn- where Pn = N, P, As and Sb

The fundamental vibrational frequencies of the isolated OCAs- and SCAs- ions, as well as their heavier antimony analogues, are reported for the first time. A thorough analysis of basis set convergence of the bond lengths and harmonic vibrational frequencies, as well as the examination of anharmonic corrections, is conducted using the MP2 and CCSD(T) ab initio methods with robust basis sets for the OCPn(-) and SCPn(-) anions moving down the pnictogen series from Pn = N to Sb. Second-order vibrational perturbation theory (VPT2) and vibrational configuration interaction (VCI) theory are used to compute the fundamental vibrational frequencies of each triatomic anion approaching the MP2 and CCSD(T) complete basis set (CBS) limits. While fundamental vibrational frequencies have been reported for OCN- and SCN- in the gas phase, only experimental vibrational frequencies of the salts for the heavier pnictogen analogues (P and As) have been reported. Experimental Raman vibrational frequencies for OCAs- and SCAs- salts were found to be coincidentally in good agreement with the CCSD(T) VCI frequencies near the CBS limit, differing by at most 13 cm(-1) from the former and 9 cm(-1) from the latter. These modest differences are likely due to the presence of counter-ions and other environmental effects in the solid state, and the overall agreement between the salts and gas-phase frequencies is quite similar to that observed for the OCP- and SCP- ions.

Automated summary

The fundamental vibrational frequencies of isolated OCAs- and SCAs- ions, as well as their heavier antimony analogues, are reported for the first time in this study. The analysis was conducted using the MP2 and CCSD(T) ab initio methods with robust basis sets. The results show a good agreement between the experimental Raman vibrational frequencies of the salts and the CCSD(T) VCI frequencies near the CBS limit.