The
wavenumbers of 774 terminal hydride infrared active stretching
modes of 478 distinct classes of structures of d6 octahedral
complexes of Mn(I), Re(I), Fe(II), Ru(II), Os(II), Co(III), Rh(III),
Ir(III), and Pt(IV) were collected from the literature. A fair correlation
(R
2 0.95 with standard deviation 31 cm–1) is found for the data with the equation νMH
calc = ν0 + Δν
t
+ Δν
n
, where ν0 is the base wavenumber for the metal
ion in question, Δν
t
is the
parameter of influence of the ligand trans to the
hydride, and Δν
n
is a correction
for the charge of the complex [MHL5]
n+. The introduction of a cis influence parameter
has little effect on the correlation, showing that the trans influence dominates in this case. The equation is useful in identifying
anomalous data reported in the literature, validating future assignments
of νMH, understanding better metal-hydride bonding,
and possibly assisting in identifying superior hydride-based catalysts.