Introducing a new bond reactivity index: Philicities for natural bond orbitals

In the present work, a new methodology defined for obtaining reactivity indices (philicities) is proposed. This is based on reactivity functions such as the Fukui function or the dual descriptor, and makes it possible to project the information from reactivity functions onto molecular orbitals, instead of onto the atoms of the molecule (atomic reactivity indices). The methodology focuses on the molecules’ natural bond orbitals (bond reactivity indices) because these orbitals have the advantage of being localized, allowing the reaction site of an electrophile or nucleophile to be determined within a very precise molecular region. This methodology provides a “philicity” index for every NBO, and a representative set of molecules has been used to test the new definition. A new methodology has also been developed to compare the “finite difference” and the “frontier molecular orbital” approximations. To facilitate their use, the proposed methodology as well as the possibility of calculating the new indices have been implemented in a new version of UCA-FUKUI software. In addition, condensation schemes based on atomic populations of the “atoms in molecules” theory, the Hirshfeld population analysis, the approximation of Mulliken (with a minimal basis set) and electrostatic potential-derived charges have also been implemented, including the calculation of “bond reactivity indices” defined in previous studies. Graphical abstract A new methodology defined for obtaining bond reactivity indices (philicities) is proposed and makes it possible to project the information from reactivity functions onto molecular orbitals. The proposed methodology as well as the possibility of calculating the new indices have been implemented in a new version of UCA-FUKUI software. In addition, this version can use new atomic condensation schemes and new “utilities” have also been included in this second version.