Molecular electron density Laplacian

Wave functions can be visualized as the total electron density, orbital densities, electrostatic potential, atomic densities, or the Laplacian of the electron density. The program computes the data from the basis functions and molecular orbital coefficients. Thus, it does not need a large amount of disk space to store data, but the computation can be time-consuming. Molden can also compute electrostatic charges from the wave function. Several visualization modes are available, including contour plots, three-dimensional isosurfaces, and data slices. 

The Laplacian of the electron density plays a dominant role throughout the theory.191 In addition, Bader has shown that the topology of the Laplacian recovers the Lewis model of the electron pair, a model that is not evident in the topology of the electron density itself. The Laplacian of the density thus provides a physical valence-shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) basis for the model of molecular geometry and for the prediction of the reaction sites and their relative alignment in acid-base reactions. This work is closely tied to earlier studies by Bader of the electron pair density, demonstrating that the spatial localization of electrons is a result of a corresponding localization of the Fermi correlation hole. 

Although X-ray crystallography has mainly been used for structure determination in the past, the diffraction data, especially if measured carefully and to high orders, contain information about the total electron density distribution in the crystal. This may be analyzed to provide essential information about the chemical properties of molecules, in particular the characterization of covalent and hydrogen bonds, both from the point of view of the valence electron density, the Laplacian of the density and derived energy density distribution. In addition, calculation of the molecular electrostatic potential indicates direction of chemical attack as well as how molecules can interact with their environment. 

FIGURE 21. Summary of electronic distribution in triplet aniline (a) Bond distances (A), NBO charges [bracket, in au] and Wiberg indices (parentheses, in au). (b) Topology of the electron density determined from atom-in-molecule calculations p(r) = electron density, L = Laplacian of the density defined as Z,(r) = —V2p(r) and = ellipticity of the bond critical point, (c) Laplacian map of the density, (d) Isosurfaces of the electron localization function, ELF = 0.87 the values are the populations of the valence basins, (e) Spin densities in the molecular (CCN) plane... 

A full description is beyond the scope of this review, but it is noted that the topological method identifies other chemical features in the electron density. The union of all bond paths gives a bond path network that is normally in a 1 1 correspondence with the chemical bond network drawn by chemists. The bond paths for bonds in strained rings are curved, reflecting their bent nature. In Figure 6, we show the gradient paths in the molecular plane of cyclopropane. The C—C bond paths are distinctly bent outward. The value of the Laplacian at the bond critical point discriminates between ionic and covalent bonding." Maps of the Laplacian field reveal atomic shell structure, lone pairs, and sites of electrophilic and nucleophilic attack. The ellipticity of a bond measures the buildup of density in one direction perpendicular to the... 

Fig. 2 Selected distances (A) in Cp2Ti( 2-HBcat)2, a plot of the Laplacian of electron density for Cp2Ti 2-HB(OH)2 2 on the B - Ti - B plane and a three-center-two-electron bonding molecular orbital describing the bonding interaction of the TiB2 triangle...

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