Interpretation of Electron Delocalization in Benzene, Cyclobutadiene, and Borazine Based on Visualization of Individual Molecular Orbital Contributions to the Induced Magnetic Field

The magnetic response of the valence molecular orbitals (MOs) of benzene, cyclobutadiene, and borazine to an external magnetic field has been visualized by calculating the chemical shielding in two-dimensional grids of points on the molecular plane and on a plane perpendicular to it, using gauge-inc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of physical chemistry. A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment, & general theory Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment, & general theory, 2014-02, Vol.118 (6), p.1113-1122
Main Authors: Charistos, Nickolas D, Papadopoulos, Anastasios G, Sigalas, Michael P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Benzene
Magnetic fields
Mathematical analysis
Molecular orbitals
Orbitals
Planes
Shielding
Visualization
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Summary:The magnetic response of the valence molecular orbitals (MOs) of benzene, cyclobutadiene, and borazine to an external magnetic field has been visualized by calculating the chemical shielding in two-dimensional grids of points on the molecular plane and on a plane perpendicular to it, using gauge-including atomic orbitals (GIAOs). The visualizations of canonical MO contributions to the induced magnetic field (CMO-IMF) provide a clear view of the spatial extension, the shape, and the magnitude of shielding and deshielding areas within the vicinity of the molecule, originating from the induced currents of each valence orbital. The results are used to investigate the delocalization of each valence MO and to evaluate its contribution to the aromatic character of systems under study. The differentiation of the total magnetic response among the three molecules originates exclusively from π-HOMO orbitals because the magnetic response of the subsets of the remaining MOs is found to be almost identical. Borazine is classified as nonaromatic as the four electrons that occupy the π-HOMO are found to be strongly localized on nitrogen centers. CMO-IMF can clarify the interpretation of various NICS indexes and can be applied for the investigation of various types of electron delocalization.
ISSN:1089-5639
1520-5215
DOI:10.1021/jp411410r