Transcription of the results of quantum chemical calculations in terms of the classical notion of molecular structures: the cases of some small carbonyls in the ground and excited states

Abstract

Quantum chemical valence parameters of several carbonyl molecules in the ground and excited states are calculated by invoking the INDO-orthogonal gradient method in an MC-SCF framework. These parameters are then used to construct state-specific structural descriptions of these molecules in terms of superposition of several canonical structures. Photochemical reactivities of some of these molecules are sought to be explained on the basis of the picture that emerges.