Molecular Orbitals

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Benzyl Carbocation LUMO Benzyl Radical SOMO Cl+ Attacks Benzene, LUMO
The LUMO of benzyl carbocation is where the postive charge "is"; it has contributions from the ortho and para positions just as shown by drawing resonance structures. The SOMO is the singly occupied molecular orbital; the one where the odd electron is; you can see the ortho and para atom contributions just as for the carbocation. This is the LUMO of the carbocation intermediate in the electrophilic substitution of benzene by chlorine; note the charge distributed ortho and para to the site of attack. The attacking Cl is the orange sphere at the top.
LUMO of Methoxy Substituted Cation LUMO of Methoxy Substituted Cation LUMO of Triphenylmethyl Carbocation
This is the LUMO of the carbocation formed when methoxybenzene is chlorinated para to the OCH3. Note the distribution of the positive charge to the methoxy oxygen. This is the LUMO for the cation from meta- attack on methoxybenzene. Notice that the methoxy group does not contribute to this orbital! The LUMO of the triphenylmethyl (trityl) carbocation shows the positive charge distributed to all three sets of ortho and para positions.


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