Ab initio investigation of the temporary anion states of silane and the linear silanes: (SinH2n+2), n=2–5

The stabilization method is used in conjunction with Koopmansʹ theorem to calculate the energies of the unfilled molecular orbitals appropriate for describing the low-lying anion states of the linear silanes, SinH2n+2, with n=1–5. In agreement with earlier studies, the lowest energy unfilled molecular orbital for each member of the n⩾3 silanes is found to be largely SiH2 σ* in character.