Structure factors calculated from molecular wavefunctions. II. Analysis of the molecular charge distribution in diborane

The electron density distribution in the crystal of diborane has been determined using structure factors based on molecular densities. The libration-correction and third-cumulant terms have also been included in the expression for the temperature factor. The equilibrium r_e values for BH bond lengths obtained by this treatment are about 0.02Åshorter than the spectroscopic ones. A total librational motion of the diborane molecule is determined: the root-mean-square oscillations about inertial axis are 11.0° (8), 9.6° (5) and 7.2° (5), respectively. The dynamic theoretical deformation density shows a three-center BHB bond picture for the bridge structure.