Boron and nitrogen cluster families analogous to carbon family: how quasi-molecule theory predicts their planarity or otherwise

Abstract

Benzene ( C 6 H 6 ) and borazine ( B 3 N 3 H 6 ) are isoelectronic and isostructural. With the same number of electrons, their different electronic structures are often attributed to the polar nature of the B–N bond. Despite their similarity, they are also significantly different. Valence isoelectronic, Al 3 N 3 H 6 , B 3 P 3 H 6 and Al 3 P 3 H 6 show further crucial differences that question the sense of s-p hybridisation to explain their planarity or otherwise. Here also examined are compounds of the B-family involving gallium. While X 3 N 3 H 6 ( X = B , Al , Ga ) tend to resemble benzene in perfect planarity, others are non-planar. Planarity is further shown to be observed for large members of the B-N series. All the above is explained by quasi-molecule theory.