We have acquired a total of 68 isomers of sulfur clusters S-n (n = 3-11) ba
sed on molecular graphics and then carried out optimizations and vibrationa
l analysis by means of the B3LYP DFT method. Inside these structures, the s
ulfur atoms could be in one-fold, two-fold and/or three-fold coordination.
According to total energies, the isomers have been ranked for stability. Ma
ny sulfur clusters are composed of atoms in two-fold mode. Compared to a S-
n structure with all atoms in two-fold mode, that with atom(s) in one-fold
and three-fold coordinations is higher in energy. It seems that it is diffi
cult for a sulfur cluster to form a cage structure with the involvement of
three-fold atom(s) (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.