Bond VB Theory

There is an equivalent way of generating solutions to the electronic Schrodinger equation which conceptually is much closer to the experimentalists language, known as Valence Bond (VB) theory. We will start by illustrating the concepts for the H2 molecule, and note how it differ from MO methods. 

An alternative stream came from the valence bond (VB) theory. Ovchinnikov judged the ground-state spin for the alternant diradicals by half the difference between the number of starred and unstarred ir-sites, i.e., S = (n -n)l2 [72]. It is the simplest way to predict the spin preference of ground states just on the basis of the molecular graph theory, and in many cases its results are parallel to those obtained from the NBMO analysis and from the sophisticated MO or DFT (density functional theory) calculations. However, this simple VB rule cannot be applied to the non-alternate diradicals. The exact solutions of semi-empirical VB, Hubbard, and PPP models shed light on the nature of spin correlation [37, 73-77]. 

Using Valence Bond (VB) theory, the central atoms of the molecules with formulas AB2U2 and AB3U should undergo sp3 hybridized with predicted bond angles of 109.5°. If no hybridization occurs, bonds would be formed by the use of p orbitals. Since the p orbitals are oriented at 90° from each other, the bond angles would be 90°. Note that hybridization is only invoked if the actual molecular geometry data indicate that it is necessary. 

In this contribution, we describe and illustrate the latest generalizations and developments[1]-[3] of a theory of recent formulation[4]-[6] for the study of chemical reactions in solution. This theory combines the powerful interpretive framework of Valence Bond (VB) theory [7] — so well known to chemists — with a dielectric continuum description of the solvent. The latter includes the quantization of the solvent electronic polarization[5, 6] and also accounts for nonequilibrium solvation effects. Compared to earlier, related efforts[4]-[6], [8]-[10], the theory [l]-[3] includes the boundary conditions on the solute cavity in a fashion related to that of Tomasi[ll] for equilibrium problems, and can be applied to reaction systems which require more than two VB states for their description, namely bimolecular Sjy2 reactions ],[8](b),[12],[13] X + RY XR + Y, acid ionizations[8](a),[14] HA +B —> A + HB+, and Menschutkin reactions[7](b), among other reactions. Compared to the various reaction field theories in use[ll],[15]-[21] (some of which are discussed in the present volume), the theory is distinguished by its quantization of the solvent electronic polarization (which in general leads to deviations from a Self-consistent limiting behavior), the inclusion of nonequilibrium solvation — so important for chemical reactions, and the VB perspective. Further historical perspective and discussion of connections to other work may be found in Ref.[l],... 

Modem valence bond (VB) theories such as Spin-Coupled theory, together with DFT and Molller-Plesset MO methods, and ab initio molecular dynamics, were employed to study structure/dynamics in representative carbonium ions. 

Quantum mechanics provide many approaches to the description of molecular structure, namely valence bond (VB) theory (8-10), molecular orbital (MO) theory (11,12), and density functional theory (DFT) (13). The former two theories were developed at about the same time, but diverged as competing methods for describing the electronic structure of chemical systems (14). The MO-based methods of calculation have enjoyed great popularity, mainly due to the availability of efficient computer codes. Together with geometry optimization routines for minima and transition states, the MO methods (DFT included) have become prevalent in applications to molecular structure and reactivity. 

As is well-known, modem valence-bond (VB) theory in its spin-coupled (SC) form (for a recent review, see Ref. 7) provides an alternative description of benzene [8-10] which, in qualitative terms, is no less convincing and is arguably even more intuitive than the MO picture with delocalized orbitals. The six n electrons are accommodated within a single product of six nonorthogonal orbitals, the spins of which are coupled in all five possible ways that lead to an overall six-electron singlet. The simultaneous optimization of the orbitals and of the weights of the five six-electron singlet spin... 

This is a book on ab initio valence bond (VB) theory. There is a vast literature on valence bond theory - much of it devoted to semiempirical and qualitative... 

In the early days of quantum mechanics, MO theory received a very bad press compared to valence bond (VB) theory because it predicted the incorrect dissociation behaviour of the hydrogen molecule. This is illustrated... 

Ik this chapter we explore how symmetry considerations can be applied to one of the most pervasive concepts in all of chemistry bonding between atoms by the sharing of pairs of electrons. Though the idea of an electron-pair bond was first introduced in 1916 by G. N. Lewis, it was only after the advent of quantum mechanics that it could be given a proper theoretical basis. This came about through the development of two theories valence bond (VB) theory and localized MO theory both of which describe the electron pair in terms of orbitals of the component atoms of the bond. 

Vacancy mechanism, 266 Valence bond (VB) theory, 139-153. 391-394.474 Valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) model. 203-206. 217-218... 

Valence Bond Hie valence bond (VB) theory grew directly out of the ideas of electron pairing by... 

Valence bond (VB) theories or empirical valence bond (EVB) methods have been developed in order to solve this problem with bond potential functions that (i) allow the change of the valence bond network over time and (ii) are simple enough to be used efficiently in an otherwise classical MD simulation code. In an EVB scheme, the chemical bond in a dissociating molecule is described as the superposition of two states a less-polar bonded state and an ionic dissociated state. One of the descriptions is given by Walbran and Kornyshev in modeling of the water dissociation process.4,5 As... 

Most organic chemists are familiar with two very different and conflicting descriptions of the 7r-electron system in benzene molecular orbital (MO) theory with delocalized orthogonal orbitals and valence bond (VB) theory with resonance between various canonical structures. An attitude fostered by many text books, especially at the undergraduate level, is that the VB description is much easier to understand and simpler to use, but that MO theory is in some sense more fundamental . 

The powerful interpretative framework of the Valence Bond (VB) theory has been exploited in several couplings and extensions with continuum models. We mention here the most relevant in the present context. 

S. Shaik, P. C. Hiberty, Helv. Chim. Acta 86, 1063 (2003). Myth and Reality in the Attitude Toward Valence-Bond (VB) Theory Are Its Failures Real ... 

Most chemists still tend to think about the structure and reactivity of atomic and molecular species in qualitative terms that are related to electron pairs and to unpaired electrons. Concepts utilizing these terms such as, for example, the Lewis theory of valence, have had and still have a considerable impact on many areas of chemistry. They are particularly useful when it is necessary to highlight the qualitative similarities between the structure and reactivity of molecules containing identical functional groups, or within a homologous series. Many organic chemistry textbooks continue to use full and half-arrows to indicate the supposed movement of electron pairs or single electrons in the description of reaction mechanisms. Such concepts are closely related to classical valence-bond (VB) theory which, however, is unable to compete with advanced molecular orbital (MO) approaches in the accurate calculation of the quantitative features of the potential surface associated with a chemical reaction. 

The complete active space valence bond (CASVB) method [1,2] is a solution to this problem. Classical valence bond (VB) theory is very successful in providing a qualitative explanation for many aspects. Chemists are familiar with the localized molecular orbitals (LMO) and the classical VB resonance concepts. 

From the conceptual point of view, there are two general approaches to the molecular structure problem the molecular orbital (MO) and the valence bond (VB) theories. Technical difficulties in the computational implementation of the VB approach have favoured the development and the popularization of MO theory in opposition to VB. In a recent review [3], some related issues are raised and clarified. However, there still persist some conceptual pitfalls and misinterpretations in specialized literature of MO and VB theories. In this paper, we attempt to contribute to a more profound understanding of the VB and MO methods and concepts. We briefly present the physico-chemical basis of MO and VB approaches and their intimate relationship. The VB concept of resonance is reformulated in a physically meaningful way and its point group symmetry foundations are laid. Finally it is shown that the Generalized Multistructural (GMS) wave function encompasses all variational wave functions, VB or MO based, in the same framework, providing an unified view for the theoretical quantum molecular structure problem. Throughout this paper, unless otherwise stated, we utilize the non-relativistic (spin independent) hamiltonian under the Bom-Oppenheimer adiabatic approximation. We will see that even when some of these restrictions are removed, the GMS wave function is still applicable. 

A spin-free approach for valence bond (VB) theory, based on symmetric group techniques, is introduced in this chapter. Bonded tableaux (BT) are adopted to represent VB structures, and a paired-permanent-determinant algorithm is developed to solve the so-called IV problem in the nonorthogonal VB method, followed by the introduction of our ab initio VB program, Xiamen-99. Furthermore, applications of ab initio VB method to the resonance effect, chemical reactions, and excited states are carried out by the Xiamen package. 

After Valence Bond (VB) theory was formulated for the first time [1,... 

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