Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol.99, No.17, 6461-6467, 1995
Calculation of the Weights of Resonance Structures of Molecules in Solution
Weights of polyelectron structures, including resonance structures, of the pi-electron system of formaldehyde, carbonyl oxide, nitrosimine, and 2-nitroethenamine in solution have been calculated by means of a general polyelectron population analysis recently developed. Wave functions of a molecular system in solution have been obtained using the continuum model of solvation developed by Rivail’s group. Correlated (CISD and MCSCF) wave functions with different basis sets (pseudopotential + minimal basis sets, STO-3G and 6-31G*) have been employed. In the case of multi-xi basis sets, the natural atomic orbitals derived from Weinhold analysis have been used. Changes of weight with solvation are discussed at the SCF and CI levels and as a function of the basis sets. Polarity of the solvent does not necessarily increase the weight of all ionic structures, but only that of those structures being favored in the framework of a given topology. The stabilization of the closed-shell structure of the carbonyl oxide in solution is explained by the changes induced by the solvent in the relative weight of the diradical/zwitterionic resonance structures. In contrast, nitrosimine does not present changes under solvation, and the singlet diradical canonical form remains the main one responsible for its open-shell configuration, For 2-nitroethenamine, it is shown that solvent polarity enhances the weights of the iminic and push-pull canonical structures and reduces that of the ethylenic structure.
Keywords:PUSH-PULL ETHYLENES;AXES ELLIPSOIDAL CAVITY;ORBITAL WAVE-FUNCTIONS;VALENCE-BOND;ELECTRONIC-STRUCTURE;CHARGE-DISTRIBUTION;POPULATION ANALYSIS;SOLVATED MOLECULES;REACTION FIELD;FREE-ENERGY