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A primer on qualitative valence bond theory – a theory coming of age
Author(s) -
Shaik Sason,
Hiberty Philippe C.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
wiley interdisciplinary reviews: computational molecular science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.126
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1759-0884
pISSN - 1759-0876
DOI - 10.1002/wcms.7
Subject(s) - excited state , valence bond theory , density functional theory , chemistry , valence (chemistry) , conjugated system , molecule , chemical bond , computational chemistry , reactivity (psychology) , chemical physics , atomic physics , physics , polymer , organic chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , molecular orbital , pathology
The use of valence bond (VB) theory as a general and wide‐ranging qualitative matrix of ideas and predictions is highlighted. Applications are demonstrated for chemical reactivity, properties of polyradicals, excited states, and chemical bonding. Highlighted subtopics include estimations of reaction barriers from simple properties of reactants and products; predictions of stable intermediates in organic, inorganic, and organometallic reactions; and predictions of reaction stereoselectivity. Additional coverage includes a pictorial model for ground and excited states of polyenes and polyradicals, predictions of Hund's rule violations, spin density polarizations and shifts, and a bonding rule in excited states of conjugated molecules. Discussion of new bonding ideas shows the far‐reaching prospects of qualitative VB theory. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2011 1 18‐29 DOI: 10.1002/wcms.7 This article is categorized under: Structure and Mechanism > Molecular Structures