Ethylene, atomic orbital model localized bonds

The n molecular orbitals described so far involve two atoms, so the orbital pictures look the same for the localized bonding model applied to ethylene and the MO approach applied to molecular oxygen. In the organic molecules described in the introduction to this chapter, however, orbitals spread over three or more atoms. Such delocalized n orbitals can form when more than two p orbitals overlap in the appropriate geometry. In this section, we develop a molecular orbital description for three-atom n systems. In the following sections, we apply the results to larger molecules. 

In contrast to VBT, "full-blown" MOT considers the electrons in molecules to occupy molecular orbitals that are formed by linear combinations (addition and subtraction) of all the atomic orbitals on all the atoms in the structure. In MOT, electrons are not confined to an individual atom plus the bonding region with another atom. Instead, electrons are contained in MOs that are highly delocalized—spread across the entire molecule. MOT does not create discrete and localized bonds between neighboring atoms. An immediate benefit of MOT over VBT is its treatment of conjugated tt systems. We don t need a "patch" like resonance to explain the structure of a carboxylate anion or of benzene it falls naturally out of the delocalized nature of the MOs. The MO models of simple molecules like ethylene or formaldehyde also lead to bonding concepts that are pervasive in organic chemistry. 

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