Electron hypothesis, four

The Four-Electron Hypothesis. This hypothesis, apparently favored by Shilov (101,102), postulates that nitrogenase works by a series of two four-electron processes. In the reduction of dinitrogen, the first step would be the production of N2H4 while the second would be the production of 2NH3 and H2 which nicely explains the 1 1 stoichiometry for dinitrogen and dihydrogen discussed above. The residual reduction of... 

Problem 9-15. Could the same predictions be made from a simple electron repulsion argument If n pairs of electrons must be accommodated in the valence-shell molecular orbitals, then assume simply that they will be as far apart as possible. Up to four electrons will push each other as far apart as possible, to create linear geometry more than four must be distributed more densely, so that the angle between the substituents will be less that 180°. Does this simple hypothesis explain everything that Walsh s rules do Is there any advantage to using Walsh s correlation diagram analysis ... 

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