Spectroscopic Evidence for a 3d(10) Ground State Electronic Configuration and Ligand Field Inversion in
Richard C Walroth1, James T Lukens1, Samantha N MacMillan1
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.
Abstract:
The contested electronic structure of [Cu(CF3)4](1-) is investigated with UV/visible/near IR spectroscopy, Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and 1s2p resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. These data, supported by density functional theory, multiplet theory, and multireference calculations, support a ground state electronic configuration in which the lowest unoccupied orbital is of predominantly trifluoromethyl character. The consensus 3d(10) configuration features an inverted ligand field in which all five metal-localized molecular orbitals are located at lower energy relative to the trifluoromethyl-centered σ orbitals.
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