The role of O(1D) in the oxidation mechanism of ethylene by iodosobenzene and other hypervalent molecules

The role of the first excited state of oxygen ( 1 D) is proven essential for the description of terminal iodine-oxygen chemical bonds. The description of the I-O bond as a dative one from iodine to O( 1 D) provides a simple and accurate picture which explains the oxidation properties of iodosobenzene and similar in nature molecules. Terminal iodine-oxygen bonds are described as PhI → O( 1 D) dative bonds explaining the oxidation properties of iodosobenzene or other "hypervalent" species.