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MO distributions of some organic molecules

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Ethylene LUMO (Lowest-Energy Unoccupied Pi Orbital)
Ethylene HOMO (Highest-energy Occupied Pi Orbital)

Methyl Acetate LUMO
Lowest-energy unoccupied Pi molecular orbital in aliphatic esters is mainly localized to the carbonyl carbon: this is the electrophilic center that accepts electrons from a nucleophile.
Methyl Acetate HOMO
Highest occupied Pi molecular orbital in methyl acetate is mainly localized on the carbonyl oxygen and carbonyl carbon. Notice the lack of overlap with the ester oxygen.
Enolate HOMO
Highest occupied Pi molecular orbital in enolates is delocalized between the carbonyl oxygen and α carbon. Both sites can act as bases but the carbon center is a better nucleophile and most interesting chemistry involves formation of bonds via α carbon.
Methoxy Butadiene Electrostatic Potential Mapped onto Electron Density.
Anisole HOMO
Highest occupied Pi molecular orbital in anisole.
Anisole Electrostatic Potential Mapped onto Electron Density.
Aniline Electrostatic Potential Mapped onto Electron Density.
Nitrobenzene HOMO
Nitrobenzene Electrostatic Potential Mapped onto Electron Density.
Fluorobenzene Electrostatic Potential Mapped onto Electron Density.
Chlorobenzene Electrostatic Potential Mapped onto Electron Density.

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Course materials by Dr. Kalju Kahn, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC Santa Barbara. ©2007-2011