HOMO highest occupied molecular orbit

Knowledge of molecular orbitals, particularly of the HOMO Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital) and the LUMO Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital), imparts a better understanding of reactions Figure 2-125b). Different colors e.g., red and blue) are used to distinguish between the parts of the orbital that have opposite signs of the wavefunction. 

Alkenes absorb ultraviolet (UV) light and use the absorbed energy to excite an electron from the HOMO (highest-occupied molecular orbital) to the LUMO (lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital). 

Abbreviations Aik, alkyl AN, acetonitrile Ar, aryl Bu, butyl cod, 1,5-cyclooctadiene Cp, cy-clopentadienyl Cp , pentamethylcyclopentadienyl Cy, cyclohexyl dppm, diphenylphosphinome-thane dpme, Ph2PC2H4PMe2 Et, ethyl fod, 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octane-dionate HOMO, highest occupied molecular orbital LUMO, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital Me, methyl MO, molecular orbital nbd, norbornadiene Nuc, nucleophile OTf, triflate Ph, phenyl Pr, propyl py, pyridine THE, tetrahydrofuran TMEDA V,V,M,M-tetramethylethylenediamine. 

In more detail, the interaction energy between donor and acceptor is determined by the ionisation potential of the donor and the electron affinity of the acceptor. The interaction energy increases with lowering of the former and raising of the latter. In the Mulliken picture (Scheme 2) it refers to a raising of the HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and lowering of the LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital). Alternatively to this picture donor-acceptor formation can be viewed in a Born-Haber cycle, within two different steps (Scheme 3). 

HOMO = highest occupied molecular orbital) is the Fermi limit. Whenever the Fermi limit is inside a band, metallic electric conduction is observed. Only a very minor energy supply is needed to promote an electron from an occupied state under the Fermi limit to an unoccupied state above it the easy switchover from one state to another is equivalent to a high electron mobility. Because of excitation by thermal energy a certain fraction of the electrons is always found above the Fermi limit. 

The HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied MO) levels for hydrogen donors used in coal liquefaction are not yet well known, but the principles involved can be illustrated with the group transfer reaction between molecular hydrogen, a (4n+2)e donor with n=0, and naphthalene, a (4m)e acceptor with m=l ... 

Table 1 Calculation of some molecular-based descriptors for BOA, DIMBOA and MBOA. Physicochemical descriptor like logP (partition coefficient between octanol and water) constitutional descriptors like the number of a specified atoms or bonds (number of carbons, hydrogens, oxygens, nitrogens, single and aromatic bonds, the total number of atoms and bonds) and molecular weight quantum-mechanical descriptors like HOMO (Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital) and LUMO (Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital).

Figure 1 shows the electron attachment energies (AE) and ionization potentials (IP) of silyl substituted 7t-systems and related compounds [4], AE can be correlated with the energy level of the LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) and IP can be correlated with the energy level of the HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital). For a-substituted 7t-systems, the introduction of a silyl group produces a decrease in the tc -(LUMO) level. This effect is attributed to the interaction between a low-lying silicon-based unoccupied orbital such as the empty d orbital of silicon and the it orbital (d -p interaction) as shown in Fig. 2. Recent investigations on these systems, however, indicate that d orbitals on silicon are not necessarily required for interpreting this effect a-effects of SiR3 can also be explained by the interaction between Si-R a orbitals and the 7r-system.

D = electron donor HOMO = highest occupied molecular orbital ... 

Fig. 2.1. Energy levels of molecular orbitals in formaldehyde (HOMO Highest Occupied Molecular Orbitals LUMO Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbitals) and possible electronic transitions.

Fig. 5-3. Electron energy levels in an isolated adsorbate particle and an adsorbent solid metal M = metal R = isolated particle LUMO = lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (lowest vacant electron level) HOMO = highest occupied molecular orbital (highest occupied electron level).

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