The influence of electron correlation on reaction energies. The dimerization energies of BH3 and LiH

Results of rigorous computations employing extended Gaussian-type basis sets are reported for BH₃, B₂H₆, LiH, and Li₂H₂ in their respective equilibrium geometries. The dimerization energy of BH₃ is calculated as −20.7 kcal/mol within the Hartree-Fock approximation and as −36.6 kcal/mol if electron correlation is included. The corresponding results for the dimerization of LiH are −47.3 kcal/mol and −48.3 kcal/mol. Partitioning of the correlation energy contributions allows to attribute the effect of electron correlation to the increase of next neighbour bond interactions on the dimerization of BH₃ and LiH. The difficulties of accurate computations of reaction energies are discussed in detail.