Abstract

Bonding between atoms and molecules can span wide extremes. Long, weak van der Waals bonds, e.g., between closed-shell inert gas atoms, at least in principle can be characterized in terms of multipolar interactions between separated charge distributions. Short, strong chemical bonds, e.g., between open-shell radical species, must be described in terms of delo­calization of the initial electronic distributions. We have recently begun to experimentally characterize complexes formed between one open- and one closed-shell species. Systems studied include inert gases (and some metal atoms) bonded to a series of radicals including OH, CdCH₃, cyclopentadienyl, and hexafluorobenzene cation radicals. These results will be discussed in terms of both the unusual bonding present and, in some cases, the evolution of simple complexes to the condensed phase limit.

© 1992 Optical Society of America