https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03957
A monocyclic array of orbitals in which there is a single out-of-phase overlap (or, more generally, an odd number of out-of-phase overlaps) reveals the opposite pattern of electrons it is stabilized (aromatic), whereas with it is destabilized (antiaromatic). In the Möbius π-electron systems are stabilized, and systems are destabilized. No examples of ground-state Möbius π-electron systems are known, but the concept has been applied to
aromatic
character to Hückel systems; with excited state
transition states
of pericyclic reactions
. The name is derived from the topological analogy of such an arrangement of orbitals to a Möbius strip.See:
aromatic
See also:
Hückel (4n + 2) rule