Spin–orbit effects in cluster chemistry: Considerations and applications for rationalization of their properties

Relativistic effects are usually taken into account in heavy-element-containing species, bringing to the scientific community stimulating cases of study. Scalar and spin–orbit effects are required to properly evaluate both the geometrical and electronic structures of such species, where, generally, scalar corrections are included. In order to take into account the spin–orbit term resulting from the interaction between the spatial and spin coordinates, double-valued point groups of symmetry are required, leading to total angular momenta (j) functions and atomic or molecular spinors, instead of pure orbital-angular momenta (l) and atomic or molecular orbitals. Here, we reviewed the role of spin–orbit coupling in bare and ligand-protected metallic clusters, from early to current works, leading to a more comprehensive relativistic quantum chemistry framework. As a result, the electronic structure is modified, leading to a variation in the calculated molecular properties, which usually improves the agreement between theory and experiment, allowing furthering rationalize of experimental results unexpected from a classical inorganic chemistry point of view. This review summarizes part of the modern application of spin–orbit coupling in heavy-elements cluster chemistry, where further treatment on an equal footing basis along with the periodic table is encouraged in order to incorporate such term in the general use vocabulary of both experimental and theoretical chemist and material scientist.