Real space electron delocalization, resonance, and aromaticity in chemistry.

ABSTRACT: Chemists explaining a molecule's stability and reactivity often refer to the concepts of delocalization, resonance, and aromaticity. Resonance is commonly discussed within valence bond theory as the stabilizing effect of mixing different Lewis structures. Yet, most computational chemists work with delocalized molecular orbitals, which are also usually employed to explain the concept of aromaticity, a ring delocalization in cyclic planar systems which abide certain number rules. However, all three concepts lack a real space definition, that is not reliant on orbitals or specific wave function expansions. Here, we outline a redefinition from first principles: delocalization means that likely electron arrangements are connected via paths of high probability density in the many-electron real s

SUBMITTER: Reuter L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8355119 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature