Abstract:
The principal types of chemical bond have been analysed, and their ranges of applicability noted. Fields in which the concept of a localised bond is inapplicable have been indicated, and, in particular, the electronic structure of Δ-polyhedral clusters has been examined. The principle of isolobal analogy has been discussed, and its unique importance for an understanding of the structure of organometallic compounds has been demonstrated. The bibliography contains 136 references.