The bond energy of ReO+: Guided ion-beam and theoretical studies of the reaction of Re+ (7S) with O2

The kinetic-energy dependence of the Re+ + O2 reaction is examined using guided ion-beam mass spectrometry. The cross section for ReO+ formation from ground state Re+ (7S) is unusual, exhibiting two endothermic features. The kinetic energy dependence for ReO+ formation is analyzed to determine D0(Re+-O) = 4.82 ± 0.05 eV, with the higher energy feature having a threshold 1.35 ± 0.28 eV higher in energy. This bond energy is consistent with much less precise values determined in the literature. Formation of ReO2 + is also observed with a pressure dependent cross section, establishing that it is formed in an exothermic reaction of ReO+ with O2. The nature of the bonding for ReO+ and ReO2 + is discussed and analyzed primarily using theoretical calculations at the B3LYP/def2-TZVPPD level of theory. The ground state of ReO+ is identified as either 5 or 3, with the latter favored once estimates of spin-orbit splitting are included. Bond energies for ground state ReO+ are calculated at this level as well as BP86 and CCSD(T,full) levels using several different basis sets. BP86 theoretical bond energies are higher than the experimental value, whereas B3LYP and CCSD(T,full) values are lower, although estimated spin-orbit corrections increase the latter close to experiment. Potential energy surfaces for the reaction of Re+ with O2 are also calculated at the B3LYP/def2-TZVPPD level of theory and reveal that ground state Re+ (7S) inserts into O2 by forming a Re+(O2) (5A) complex which can then couple with additional surfaces to form ground state ReO2 + (3B1). Several explanations for the unusual dual endothermic features are explored, with no unambiguous explanation being evident. As such, this heavy metal system provides a very interesting experimental phenomenon of both adiabatic and nonadiabatic behavior.