The electronic structure of metal carbonyls and related compounds. Part II. The electronic structure of Rh6(CO)16

Abstract

The electronic structure of the Rh₆(CO)₁₆ molecule is discussed within the framework laid down in previous Papers. In contrast to the “rare gas” formalism, by which the molecule appears to have an excess of two electrons, the present approach finds it deficient in two electrons. It is argued that as a consequence of metal–metal interaction an orbital of A₂ symmetry (in T_d) is destabilised and consequently unoccupied.