Electronic structure and bonding of HBeLi, HmgLi, and HCaLi in their bent equilibrium geometries

Compact, yet accurate, non-orthogonal multi-configuration wavefunctions have been computed for HBeLi, HMgLi, and HCaLi in their respective nonlinear equilibrium geometries. They appear to be dominated by just two configurations, "orbitally relaxed" versions of the single-configuration spin-coupled and generalized valence bond (GVB) wavefunctions, respectively, with a smaller contribution from a self-consistent field (SCF)-like configuration. Double excitations out of the main configurations, while required for quantitative accuracy, enter the wavefunction with such small weights that they do not alter the qualitative picture that emerges from the orbital structure of the two main configurations. For comparison, calculations have also been carried out with two orthogonality-free configurations as reference, and no GVB-like or SCF-like configuration. Atoms-in-molecules (AIM) topological analyses of the overall electron densities, and considerations of local energetics in the differential neighbourhood of the equilibrium geometries, have been used to provide independent assessments of the nature of bonding in these molecules. Orbital structure and AIM results together suggest the existence of three-centre two-electron M-H-M' bonds through hydrogen in all three molecules. Orbital pictures suggest these bonds are at least partially covalent, while a strict interpretation of values of the electron density Laplacian at AIM bond critical points would imply closed-shell interactions. Also for all three molecules, the orbital structures of the two main configurations suggest the presence of a one-electron two-centre bond between Li and the alkaline-earth atom. This bond may provide at least a partial explanation for the relative shortness of the inter-metallic distances, but is apparently too spread out to show up in AIM analyses of the total electron density. Considerations of local energetics support the more nuanced description of bonding that emerges, for these three molecules, from their orbital structure.