The Hückel approximations

 

The approximations made in Hückel theory for conjugated hydrocarbons:

 

·     p orbitals treated separately from s orbitals

·     Only p orbitals treated in Hückel theory

·     s orbitals treated as a rigid framework

·     p orbitals expressed as linear combination of carbon 2p orbitals (LCAO)

·     All carbon atoms are treated as being identical

·     All Coulomb integrals are set equal (Hrr = a)

·     All overlap integrals between different AOs are set to zero (Srs = 0)

·     All resonance integrals between adjacent carbon atoms set equal (Hrs =b)

·     All other resonance integrals set to zero

 

The molecular orbitals of butadiene