Electronic reorganization triggered by electron transfer: the intervalence charge transfer of a Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ bimetallic complex.
The key role of the molecular orbitals in describing electron transfer processes is put in evidence for the intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) of a synthetic nonheme binuclear mixed-valence Fe(3+)/Fe(2+) compound. The electronic reorganization induced by the IVCT can be quantified by controlling the adaptation of the molecular orbitals to the charge transfer process. We evaluate the transition energy and its polarization effects on the molecular orbitals by means of ab initio calculations. The resulting energetic profile of the IVCT shows strong similarities to the Marcus' model, suggesting a response behaviour of the ensemble of electrons analogue to that of the solvent. We quantify the extent of the electronic reorganization induced by the IVCT process to be 11.74 eV, a very large effect that induces the crossing of states reducing the total energy of the transfer to 0.89 eV.
Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Heverlee-Leuven, Belgium.
Alex
A
Domingo
Celestino
C
Angeli
Coen
C
de Graaf
Vincent
V
Robert
D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006844:Hydrocarbons, Cyclic / Q000737:chemistry; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure
D056831:Coordination Complexes; D006844:Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; D007501:Iron
Ab Initio; electron transfer; electronic structure; molecular orbitals; transition metal