Bonding orbital valence bond theory

One widely used valence bond theory is the generalised valence bond (GVB) method of Goddard and co-workers [Bobrowicz and Goddard 1977]. In the simple Heitler-London treatment of the hydrogen molecule the two orbitals are the non-orthogonal atomic orbitals on the two hydrogen atoms. In the GVB theory the analogous wavefunction is written ... 

Another approach is spin-coupled valence bond theory, which divides the electrons into two sets core electrons, which are described by doubly occupied orthogonal orbitals, and active electrons, which occupy singly occupied non-orthogonal orbitals. Both types of orbital are expressed in the usual way as a linear combination of basis functions. The overall wavefunction is completed by two spin fimctions one that describes the coupling of the spins of the core electrons and one that deals with the active electrons. The choice of spin function for these active electrons is a key component of the theory [Gerratt ef al. 1997]. One of the distinctive features of this theory is that a considerable amount of chemically significant electronic correlation is incorporated into the wavefunction, giving an accuracy comparable to CASSCF. An additional benefit is that the orbitals tend to be... 

T orbital for benzene obtained from spin-coupled valence bond theory. (Figure redrawn from Gerratt ], D L oer, P B Karadakov and M Raimondi 1997. Modem valence bond theory. Chemical Society Reviews 87 100.) figure also shows the two Kekule and three Dewar benzene forms which contribute to the overall wavefunction Kekuleform contributes approximately 40.5% and each Dewar form approximately 6.4%. 

The characteristic feature of valence bond theory is that it pictures a covalent bond between two atoms in terms of an m phase overlap of a half filled orbital of one atom with a half filled orbital of the other illustrated for the case of H2 m Figure 2 3 Two hydrogen atoms each containing an electron m a Is orbital combine so that their orbitals overlap to give a new orbital associated with both of them In phase orbital overlap (con structive interference) increases the probability of finding an electron m the region between the two nuclei where it feels the attractive force of both of them... 

A vexing puzzle m the early days of valence bond theory concerned the fact that methane is CH4 and that the four bonds to carbon are directed toward the corners of a tetrahedron Valence bond theory is based on the overlap of half filled orbitals of the connected atoms but with an electron configuration of s 2s 2p 2py carbon has only two half filled orbitals (Figure 2 8a) How can it have bonds to four hydrogens ... 

In valence bond theory a covalent bond is described m terms of m phase overlap of a half filled orbital of one atom with a half filled orbital of another When applied to bonding m H2 the orbitals involved are the Is orbitals of two hydrogen atoms and the bond is a ct bond... 

Section 2 6 Bonding m methane is most often described by an orbital hybridization model which is a modified form of valence bond theory Four equiva lent sp hybrid orbitals of carbon are generated by mixing the 2s 2p 2py and 2p orbitals Overlap of each half filled sp hybrid orbital with a half filled hydrogen Is orbital gives a ct bond... 

Valence bond theory (Section 2 3) Theory of chemical bond mg based on overlap of half filled atomic orbitals between two atoms Orbital hybridization is an important element of valence bond theory... 

Structure. The straiued configuration of ethylene oxide has been a subject for bonding and molecular orbital studies. Valence bond and early molecular orbital studies have been reviewed (28). Intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) and localized molecular orbital (LMO) calculations have also been performed (29—31). The LMO bond density maps show that the bond density is strongly polarized toward the oxygen atom (30). Maximum bond density hes outside of the CCO triangle, as suggested by the bent bonds of valence—bond theory (32). The H-nmr spectmm of ethylene oxide is consistent with these calculations (33). 

The concepts of directed valence and orbital hybridization were developed by Linus Pauling soon after the description of the hydrogen molecule by the valence bond theory. These concepts were applied to an issue of specific concern to organic chemistry, the tetrahedral orientation of the bonds to tetracoordinate carbon. Pauling reasoned that because covalent bonds require mutual overlap of orbitals, stronger bonds would result from better overlap. Orbitals that possess directional properties, such as p orbitals, should therefore be more effective than spherically symmetric 5 orbitals. 

Several methods of quantitative description of molecular structure based on the concepts of valence bond theory have been developed. These methods employ orbitals similar to localized valence bond orbitals, but permitting modest delocalization. These orbitals allow many fewer structures to be considered and remove the need for incorporating many ionic structures, in agreement with chemical intuition. To date, these methods have not been as widely applied in organic chemistry as MO calculations. They have, however, been successfully applied to fundamental structural issues. For example, successful quantitative treatments of the structure and energy of benzene and its heterocyclic analogs have been developed. It remains to be seen whether computations based on DFT and modem valence bond theory will come to rival the widely used MO programs in analysis and interpretation of stmcture and reactivity. 

Both the language of valence bond theory and of molecular orbital theory are used in discussing structural effects on reactivity and mechanism. Our intent is to illustrate both approaches to interpretation. A decade has passed since the publication of the Third Edition. That decade has seen significant developments in areas covered by the text. Perhaps most noteworthy has been the application of computational methods to a much wider range of problems of structure and mechanism. We have updated the description of computational methods and have included examples throughout the text of application of computational methods to specific reactions. 

In his valence bond theory (VB), L. Pauling extended the idea of electron-pair donation by considering the orbitals of the metal which would be needed to accommodate them, and the stereochemical consequences of their hybridization (1931-3). He was thereby able to account for much that was known in the 1930s about the stereochemistry and kinetic behaviour of complexes, and demonstrated the diagnostic value of measuring their magnetic properties. Unfortunately the theory offers no satisfactory explanation of spectroscopic properties and so was... 

How does electron sharing lead to bonding between atoms Two models have been developed to describe covalent bonding valence bond theory and molecular orbital theory. Each model has its strengths and weaknesses, and chemists tend... 

We said in Section 1.5 that chemists use two models for describing covalent bonds valence bond theory and molecular orbital theory. Having now seen the valence bond approach, which uses hybrid atomic orbitals to account for geometry and assumes the overlap of atomic orbitals to account for electron sharing, let s look briefly at the molecular orbital approach to bonding. We ll return to the topic in Chapters 14 and 15 for a more in-depth discussion. 

A covalent bond is formed when an electron pair is shared between atoms. According to valence bond theory, electron sharing occurs by overlap of two atomic orbitals. According to molecular orbital (MO) theory, bonds result from the mathematical combination of atomic orbitals to give molecular orbitals, which belong to the entire molecule. Bonds that have a circular cross-section and are formed by head-on interaction are called sigma (cr) bonds bonds formed by sideways interaction ot p orbitals are called pi (77-) bonds. 

What accounts for the stability of conjugated dienes According to valence bond theory (Sections 1.5 and 1.8), the stability is due to orbital hybridization. Typical C—C bonds like those in alkanes result from a overlap of 5p3 orbitals on both carbons. In a conjugated diene, however, the central C—C bond results from conjugated diene results in part from the greater amount of s character in the orbitals forming the C-C bond. 

Valence bond theory (Section 1.5) A bonding theory that describes a covalent bond as resulting from the overlap of two atomic orbitals. 

To explain these and other discrepancies, simple valence bond theory must be modified. It is necessary to invoke a new kind of orbital, called a hybrid orbital. 

In Chapter 7, we used valence bond theory to explain bonding in molecules. It accounts, at least qualitatively, for the stability of the covalent bond in terms of the overlap of atomic orbitals. By invoking hybridization, valence bond theory can account for the molecular geometries predicted by electron-pair repulsion. Where Lewis structures are inadequate, as in S02, the concept of resonance allows us to explain the observed properties. 

Valence bond theory (Chapter 7) explains the fact that the three N—O bonds are identical by invoking the idea of resonance, with three contributing structures. MO theory, on the other hand, considers that the skeleton of the nitrate ion is established by the three sigma bonds while the electron pair in the pi orbital is delocalized, shared by all of the atoms in the molecule. According to MO theory, a similar interpretation applies with all of the resonance hybrids described in Chapter 7, including SO S03, and C032-. 

In valence-bond theory, we assume that bonds form when unpaired electrons in valence-shell atomic orbitals pair the atomic orbitals overlap end to end to form cr-bonds or side by side to form ir-bonds. 

FIGURE 3.14 Each C H bond in methane is formed by the pairing of an electron in a hydrogen U-orbital and an electron in one of the four sp hybrid orbitals of carbon. Therefore, valence-bond theory predicts four equivalent cr-bonds in a tetrahedral arrangement, which is consistent with experimental results. 

Lewis s theory of the chemical bond was brilliant, but it was little more than guesswork inspired by insight. Lewis had no way of knowing why an electron pair was so important for the formation of covalent bonds. Valence-bond theory explained the importance of the electron pair in terms of spin-pairing but it could not explain the properties of some molecules. Molecular orbital theory, which is also based on quantum mechanics and was introduced in the late 1920s by Mul-liken and Hund, has proved to be the most successful theory of the chemical bond it overcomes all the deficiencies of Lewis s theory and is easier to use in calculations than valence-bond theory. 

The VB and MO theories are both procedures for constructing approximations to the wavefunctions of electrons, but they construct these approximations in different ways. The language of valence-bond theory, in which the focus is on bonds between pairs of atoms, pervades the whole of organic chemistry, where chemists speak of o- and TT-bonds between particular pairs of atoms, hybridization, and resonance. However, molecular orbital theory, in which the focus is on electrons that spread throughout the nuclear framework and bind the entire collection of atoms together, has been developed far more extensively than valence-bond... 

In this section we start, as in valence-bond theory, with a simple molecule, H2, and in the following sections extend the same principles to more complex molecules and solids. In every case, molecular orbitals are built by adding together—the technical term is superimposing—atomic orbitals belonging to the valence shells of the atoms in the molecule. For example, a molecular orbital for Fi2 is... 

A note on good practice The concepts of promotion, hybridization, and resonance belong to valence bond theory, not molecular orbital theory. Instead, molecular orbitals are built from all the available atomic orbitals by noting whether or not they have the right shape to overlap with one another. 

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