Bent's rule

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.BT07000
In a molecule, smaller bond angles are formed between electronegative ligands since the central atom, to which the ligands are attached, tends to direct bonding hybrid orbitals of greater p character towards its more electronegative substituents.
Source:
PAC, 1999, 71, 1919. (Glossary of terms used in theoretical organic chemistry) on page 1926 [Terms] [Paper]
Citation: 'Bent's rule' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.BT07000 RIS BibTex EndNote
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Last revised: February 24, 2014