Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.120, No.8, 1795-1799, 1998
The use of density functional theory to understand and predict structures and bonding in main group compounds with multiple bonds
Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out on a number of compounds in which multiple bonds are formed by or between main group elements. The calculated and observed structures agree very well for P-2, P-4, P=C-R, R-P=P-R, As=C-R, R-As=As-R', R-Bi=Bi-R, and R-2-Ge=Ge-R-2 For a recently reported compound alleged to contain a Ga=Ga (triple) bond the calculations point to a different formulation in which there is only a double bond and a significant role for noncovalent interactions.