Prediction of molecular properties including symmetry from quantum-based molecular structural formulas, VIF

Structurally covariant valency interaction formulas, VIF, gain chemical significance by comparison with resonance structures and natural bond orbital, NBO, bonding schemes and at the same time allow for additional prediction such as symmetry of ring systems and destabilization of electron pairs with respect to reference energy of -1/2 E_h. Comparisons are based on three chemical interpretations of Sinanoĝlu's theory of structural covariance: (1) sets of structurally covariant quantum structural formulas, VIF, are interpreted as the same quantum operator represented in linearly related basis frames; (2) structurally covariant VIF pictures are interpreted as sets of molecular species with similar energy; and (3) the same VIF picture can be interpreted as different quantum operators, one-electron density or Hamiltonian; for example. According to these three interpretations, bond pair, lone pair, and free radical electrons understood in terms of a localized orbital representation are recognized as having energies above, below, or equal to a predetermined reference, frequently -1/2 E_h. The probable position of electron pairs and radical electrons is predicted. The selectivity of concerted ring closures in allyl anion and cation is described. Symmetries of conjugated ring systems are predicted according to their numbers of π-electrons and spin-multiplicity. The π-distortivity of benzene is predicted. The 3c/2e ^- H-bridging bonds in diborane are derived in a natural way according to the notion that the bridging bonds will have delocalizing interactions between them consistent with results of the NBO method. Key chemical bonding motifs are described using VIF. These include 2c/le^-, 2c/2e ^-, 2c/3e^-, 3c/2e^-, 3c/3e^-, 3c/4e^-, 4n antiaromatic, and 4n+2 aromatic bonding systems. Some common organic functional groups are represented as VIF pictures and because these pictures can be interpreted simultaneously as one-electron density and Hamiltonian operators, the valence shell electron pair repulsion method is applied toward understanding the energies of valence NBOs with respect to the reference energy of -1/2E_h.