The basic principle of Hǜckel molecular orbital (HMO) theory lies in the fact that it is absolutely necessary a one-electron treatment and the electrons remain in the p orbitals. In other words, we can assume that both the core electrons and the electrons present in the skeleton are regarded as “frozen”. It is pertinent to note that there is no interaction between s and p electrons present in the molecule.

Hǜckel (as early as in 1931) pointed out that it was possible to state the characteristics of conjugated hydrocarbons and polyenes by the quantum mechanical model, which took into consideration only p electrons. The Hǜckel HMO approximation works best for a class of alternant hydrocarbons (may be aliphatic or aromatic).

The explicit starting point for the derivation of Hǜckel method for p electron system is the Eigen value formulation of Schröodinger equation, HΨ = EΨ. Hǜckel applied this equation to molecules, keeping in view that H and Y represent molecular Hamiltonian and wave function, respectively.

Multiplying HΨ = EΨ by Ψ we have

Also multiplying both the sides by the volume element dt, Eq. (13.1) takes the form

Integrating and rearranging the above equation, we can express this as

This equation represents the energy value/expectation value of energy of the system.

Next, the molecular wave function will be approximated as a linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) by using suitable basis function fi. Keep in mind that the combination of n basis function will give rise to n molecular orbitals, which can be expressed as

where, Ci = variational coefficients

and Fi = basis functions

Substituting the value of Ψ in Eq. (13.2), we have Substituting these in the above equation, we shall obtain where, N = numerator

D = denominator

Differentiating Eq. (13.5) with respect to Ci and on applying the condition of minimum to get the minimum value of E, we can write

where, N0 = first differentiation of N

D0 = first differentiation of D

The above equation can also be expressed as

From this, we shall get the following set of linear equations:

These linear equations can be expressed in a more general form as

When one proceeds to solve Eq. (13.8), one will find for each root the ratio of the expansion coefficients, and finally, one will get the coefficients uniquely by normalising each orbital.