5.01 | Lewis Acid/Base Interactions in Chemistry

Monday July 22nd, 2024 | In this lecture we look primarily at Lewis Acid/Base interactions in organic chemistry. We particularly looked at the interaction between ammonia and trifluoroborane, the protonation of ammonia to form ammonium chloride, and hydrogen bonding interactions between hydrogenfluoride and the fluoride anion. By looking at the HOMO (±1) and the LUMO (±1) of the involved molecules, we were able to construct new MO-diagrams that describe the bonding between these Lewis Acid/Base adducts. Important to keep into account is also the symmetry and geometry of the final products that can influence the energy and degeneracy of the newly established molecular orbitals. It’s also important to keep track of the physical position of the orbitals in order to determine whether or not they will have productive overlap, as illustrated in the hydrogen-bonding interaction described between HF and F in aqueous solution.

The video to the lecture can be bound below: