Effective core potential ab initio calculations on main group heptoxides and large silicate systems

Abstract

The ab initio molecular structures for several main group heptoxides (X2O7n-, n=0,2,4) are calculated using effective core potentials at the HF and DFT (B3LYP) levels. Particular attention is given to the X-O-X bond angle, as this structural parameter is a key feature for the study of both heptoxides and larger derivatives, such as polysilicate systems. The extent of the p-d interactions, which was found to be the main factor governing the magnitude of the X-O-X angle in transition metal heptoxides, does not play a significant role in the main group analogues.