Abstract
An enhancement of through-bond interaction by bond angle distortion in pyrazine was examined using various MO methods. Results of MINDO/3 geometry optimization with an angle (${\alpha}$) at $C_2$ atom fixed to 120∼90$^{\circ}$ lead to distorted structures in which the distorted bond is brought closer toward lone pair orbital n of N atom. It was also found that the bond angle distortion increased the P character at the atom $C_2$, resulting in an increased vicinal overlap between n and the $C_2-C_3$ bond. The FMO patterns of ${\sigma}$ framework showed three-fold degeneracy, one of which was of different symmetry which mixes in the symmetry adapted pair, $n_+\;and\;n_-;\;both\;n_+\;and\;n_-$ orbitals thus can interact with both FMOs of the ${\sigma}$ framework. The LCBO-MO analysis with partial elimination of bonds, antibonds or both, however, revealed that the main interaction of $n_+$ was with the HO-${\sigma}$ and that of $n_-$ was with the LU-${\sigma}^{\ast}$ orbital of the ${\sigma}$ framework.