The electronic properties of three popular high spin complexes [TM(acac)3, TM = Cr, Mn, and Fe] revisited: an experimental and theoretical study

The occupied and unoccupied electronic structures of three high spin TM(acac) 3 (TM = Cr, Mn, and Fe) complexes (I, II, and III, respectively) were studied by revisiting their literature vapour- phase He(I) and, when available, He(II) photoemission (PE) spectra and by means of original near- edge X- ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopic data recorded at the OK-edge (OK-edge) and TM (L2,3)- edges (TML2,3- edges). The assignments of the vapour-phase He(I)/He(II) PE spectra were guided by the results of spin- unrestricted non- relativistic Slater transition state calculations, while the OK- edge and TM(L2,3)edge spectroscopic pieces of evidence were analysed by exploiting the results of spin-unrestricted scalar-relativistic time-dependent density functional theory (DFT) and DFT/ROCIS calculations, respectively. Although the actual symmetry (D-3, in the absence of any Jahn-Teller distortion) of the title molecules allowed an extensive mixing between TM t(2g)- like and eg- like atomic orbitals, the use of the Nalewajski- Mrozek TM-O bond multiplicity index combined with a thorough analysis of the ground state (GS) outcomes allowed the assessment of the TM-O bond weakening associated with the progressive TM 3d- based e(g)- like orbital filling. The experimental information provided by K-O- edge spectra was rather poor; nevertheless, the combined use of symmetry, orbitals and spectra allowed us (i) to rationalise minor differences characterizing spectral features along the series, (ii) to quantify the contribution provided by the ligand-to-metal-charge-transfer (LMCT) excitations to the different spectral features, and (iii) to recognize the t2g-/eg- like nature of the TM 3d- based orbitals involved in LMCT transitions. As far as the TML2,3- edge spectra and the DFT/ROCIS results were concerned, the lowest lying L-I, II(3) spectral features included states having either the GS spin multiplicity (S(I) = 3/2, S(II) = 2) or, at higher excitation energies (EEs), states with Delta S = +/- 1. In contrast to that, only states with Delta S = 0, -1 significantly contributed to the IIIL3 spectral pattern. Along the whole series, the L-3 higher EE side was systematically characterized by states involving (TM)2p pi(4) MLCT excitations; as such, coupled- single excitations with DS = 0 were involved in I and II, while single MLCT (TM)2p pi(4) transitions with Delta S = -1 were involved in III.