Trinickel

Abstract

The resonance Raman spectrum of a nickel‐containing species isolated in solid argon is reported and assigned to Ni₃. On the basis of isotopic fine structure analysis its geometry is determined to be C_2v with an apex angle between 90° and 100°. This structure is postulated to come about as a result of two effects: the high flexibility of Ni₃ along the bending coordinate about the linear form and the geometry of available trivacancies within the face centered cubic solid support. The molecular ground state is suggested to be Δ_u of unknown spin multiplicity. Consequently, it is argued that the molecular lability comes about as a result of the Renner–Teller effect.