Valence Bond Theory and Chemical Structure (Studies in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry)

For the last two or three decades molecular-orbital theory has been the main foundation of descriptions of molecular structure. In recent years, however, there has been a strong resurgence of interest in the older valence bond theory. In this timely book leading researchers describe valence bond theory and its applications to a wide range of chemical problems. The opening articles provide background materials and a historical perspective of the subject. These are followed by articles on recent computational methodology, discussions of recent novel ab initio calculations (as on benzene), descriptions for conceptual chemical bonding ideas as applied both to molecular structures and chemical reactions, and finally several applications involving condensed matter, including polymers, magnetic solids, metals and high-T c superconductors.