Perspective on "The spectra and electronic structure of the tetrahedral ions MnO4-, CrO4-, and ClO4-" - Wolfsberg M, Helmholz L (1952) J Chem Phys 20 : 837-843

The paper by Wolfsberg and Helmholz represents the first molecular orbital calculation on a transition-metal complex. Published in the heyday of ligan d-field theory, the paper was 10 years ahead of its time. Here, the present author provides an overview of the title paper: a brief description of the results, his perspective on the historical context of the work and its inf luence on subsequent developments, personal reminiscences about the paper b y Max Wolfsberg, and biographical sketches of the authors.