An ab initio valence bond (VB) calculation of the π delocalization energy in borazine,B3N3H6

Valence bond (VB) calculations using a double‐zeta D95 basis set have been performed for borazine, B₃N₃H₆ and for benzene, C₆H₆ in order to determine the relative weights of individual standard Lewis structures. In the delocalized resonance scheme of borazine, the structure ( I ) with no double bonds and three lone pairs of electrons at the three nitrogen atoms is the major contributor with a structural weight of 0.17, followed by six equivalent Lewis structures with one double bond and two lone pairs at two nitrogen atoms ( II ) with weights of 0.08 each. In the case of benzene, the two Kekulé structures ( III ) contribute with structural weights of 0.15 each, followed by 12 equivalent ionic structures ( IV ) with weights of 0.03 each, followed by the three equivalent Dewar‐type structures ( V ) with structural weights of 0.02 each. The values of 54.1 and 45.8 kcal mol⁻¹ for the delocalization energies of borazine and benzene were estimated. Therefore, B₃N₃H₆ is calculated to have substantial aromatic character, similar to benzene, when we assume that the resonance energy can provide a criterion for aromaticity. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:311–315, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20095