title: Sigma-hole bonding between like atoms; a fallacy of atomic charges.
abstract: Covalently bonded atoms, at least in Groups V-VII, may have regions of both positive and negative electrostatic potentials on their surfaces. The positive regions tend to be along the extensions of the bonds to these atoms; the origin of this can be explained in terms of the sigma-hole concept. It is thus possible for such an atom in one molecule to interact electrostatically with its counterpart in a second, identical molecule, forming a highly directional noncovalent bond. Several examples are presented and discussed. Such "like-like" interactions could not be understood in terms of atomic charges assigned by any of the usual procedures, which view a bonded atom as being entirely positive or negative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA. ppolitze@uno.edu
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Politzer
authors.forename: Jane S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Monica C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Concha
mesh_terms: D004602:Elements; D008956:Models, Chemical; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D004602:Elements