The Sum of van der Waals Radii – A Pitfall in the Search for Bonding
Günter Paulus Schiemenz · Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B · 2007
The most widely used criterion for the evaluation of chemical bonding, especially of weak bonding, are interatomic distances shorter than the sum of the van derWaals radii, d(X···Y)<Σr(vdW)[X,Y]. The shortcomings of these radii are, however, so serious, that illicit conclusions are easily arrived at. It is proposed to discard the ‘shorter than Σr(vdW)’ criterion altogether and to rely on alternative criteria.