Hypervalent Molecules

Abstract

This chapter talks about some main group molecules (such as SF4 or ClF3) where, as in benzene, localized and delocalized bonding descriptions may be concurrently used to describe different parts of the molecule. These molecules may also be viewed via a completely delocalized description. For some species such as SF6, there is no choice but to use a delocalized description as opposed to six two-center-two-electron bonds unless higher energy d orbitals are included in the bonding picture. For “penta or hexavalent carbon” where such d orbital participation is unlikely on energy grounds, a delocalized picture is the only one we have.