Understanding the properties of inorganic benzenes based on π-electron densities

The properties of inorganic benzenes have been investigated by means of second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) calculations and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) studies. In this work, the σ- and π-electron densities were separated from the total electron densities, and it was therefore possible to evaluate the contributions of σ and π electrons to the chemical bonds and properties of inorganic benzenes. The following conclusions are given: (1) The π-attractors' positions correlate to their respective atomic radii. With increasing atomic number in the same period, the attractor of π-electron densities becomes closer to its respective nucleus. With increasing atomic number in the main group, the position of the π attractor becomes farther from its respective nucleus. (2) The strength of the chemical bonds of the inorganic benzene rings is determined by σ-electron densities, not π-electron densities; their bonding character is mainly determined by the σ-electron density; however, the role of the π-electron density cannot be neglected. (3) For the inorganic benzenes studied, the electron localization function for π (ELFπ) values are related to the differences of the electronegativity between the neighboring atoms of the inorganic benzene rings, Δχ(X,Y). The smaller the difference of Δχ(X,Y), the higher the value of ELFπ, resulting in more aromatic properties of the inorganic benzenes.