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hyperconjugation
In the formalism that separates bonds into σ and π types, hyperconjugation is the interaction of σ-bonds (e.g. C–H, C–C, etc.) with a π network. This interaction is customarily illustrated by contributing structures, e.g. for toluene (below), sometimes said to be an example of 'heterovalent' or 'sacrificial hyperconjugation', so named because the contributing structure contains one two-electron bond less than the normal Lewis formula for toluene:
H02924-1
At present, there is no evidence for sacrificial hyperconjugation in neutral hydrocarbons. The concept of hyperconjugation is also applied to carbenium ions and radicals, where the interaction is now between σ-bonds and an unfilled or partially filled π- or p-orbital. A contributing structure illustrating this for the tert-butyl cation is:
H02924-2
This latter example is sometimes called an example of 'isovalent hyper-conjugation' (the contributing structure containing the same number of two-electron bonds as the normal Lewis formula). Both structures shown on the right hand side are also examples of 'double bond-no-bond resonance'. The interaction between filled π- or p- orbitals and adjacent antibonding σ* orbitals is referred to as 'negative hyperconjugation', as for example in the fluoroethyl anion:
H02924-3
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077 (Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)) on page 1123
InChI=1/C4H9/c1-4(2)3/h1-3H3/q+1
IKQSNVOJJISMJS-UHFFFAOYAG
InChI=1/C4H8/c1-4(2)3/h1H2,2-3H3
VQTUBCCKSQIDNK-UHFFFAOYAW
InChI=1/p+1/fH/q+1
GPRLSGONYQIRFK-XXNIATESCL
InChI=1/C2H4F/c1-2-3/h1-2H2/q-1
PHXOVFDNXGUCLW-UHFFFAOYAA
InChI=1/C2H4/c1-2/h1-2H2
VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYAE
InChI=1/FH/h1H/p-1/fF/h1h/q-1
KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-SBGXAHRHCZ
InChI=1/C7H8/c1-7-5-3-2-4-6-7/h2-6H,1H3
YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYAT
InChI=1/C7H7/c1-7-5-3-2-4-6-7/h2-6H,1H2/q-1
QJHNLKRMBCYQKX-UHFFFAOYAU
InChI=1/p+1/fH/q+1
GPRLSGONYQIRFK-XXNIATESCL
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Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A.Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997). XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8. doi:10.1351/goldbook.
DOI of this term: doi:10.1351/goldbook.H02924
Original PDF version (may be out of date): http://www.iupac.org/goldbook/H02924.pdf.
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