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Aromatic

  • Page ID
    38607
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    Valence bond theory uses Lewis diagrams to depict structure and bonding of covalent entities, such as molecules and polyatomic ions, henceforth molecules. The Lewis diagram of many a molecule, however, is not consistent with the observed properties of the molecule. The Lewis diagram of some molecules suggests a ring bearing a fully conjugated \(\pi\)-electron system, or loop of \(\pi\) electrons, provided each atom in the ring is sp2- or sp-hybridized.

    • cyclobutadiene (1)

    aromatic1.png

    • benzene (2)

    aromatic2.png

    • cyclooctatetraene (3)

    aromatic3.png

    • pyridine (4)

    aromatic4.png

    • pyrrole (5)

    aromatic5.png

    • cyclopentadienyl cation (6)

    aromatic6.png

    • cyclopentadienyl anion (7)

    aromatic7.png

    As evident from the stability of \(\pi\) electrons however, only some such rings actually have a loop of \(\pi\) electrons. Of the above examples, only the rings in 2, 4, 5, and 7 have a loop of \(\pi\) electrons. Resonance theory can predict that the rings in 2, 4, 5, and 7 have a loop of \(\pi\) electrons.

    aromatic8.png

    aromatic9.png

    According to resonance theory, however, the rings in 1, 3, and 6 also should have a loop of \(\pi\) electrons.

    aromatic10.png

    Evidently, resonance theory is no more reliable a tool than Lewis diagrams to be used in predicting if a ring has a loop of \(\pi\) electrons. Rings whose Lewis diagram implies a loop of \(\pi\) electrons can be classified into three classes:

    1. aromatic rings
    2. antiaromatic rings
    3. nonaromatic rings

    To find whether a ring is aromatic, antiaromatic, nonaromatic, or none of the above, use the following flow chart.

    aromatic19.png

    Figure 1.1.1: Flowchart for determining aromatic behavior in cyclic molecules.


    This page titled Aromatic is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gamini Gunawardena via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

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