Spectroscopic analysis, nuclear motion

Normal mode analysis provides a good example of information which is obtainable only through a theoretical calculation, since spectroscopic data does not directly indicate the specific type of nuclear motion producing each peak. Note that it is also possible to animate vibrational modes in some graphics packages. 

The fundamental vibrations have been assigned for the M-H-M backbone of HM COho, M = Cr, Mo, and W. When it is observable, the asymmetric M-H-M stretch occurs around 1700 cm-1 in low temperature ir spectra. One or possibly two deformation modes occur around 850 cm l in conjunction with overtones that are enhanced in intensity by Fermi resonance. The symmetric stretch, which involves predominantly metal motion, is expected below 150 cm l. For the molybdenum and tungsten compounds, this band is obscured by other low frequency features. Vibrational spectroscopic evidence is presented for a bent Cr-H-Cr array in [PPN][(OC)5Cr-H-Cr(CO)5], This structural inference is a good example of the way in which vibrational data can supplement diffraction data in the structural analysis of disordered systems. Implications of the bent Cr-H-Cr array are discussed in terms of a simple bonding model which involves a balance between nuclear repulsion, M-M overlap, and M-H overlap. The literature on M-H -M frequencies is summarized. 

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