How a new carbon allotrope could change the definition of aromaticity
By 
Katrina Krämer2024-01-23T09:34:00
New experiments are uncovering the secrets of cyclocarbons– molecular forms of pure carbon that had eluded chemists for decades
At first glance, cyclocarbons look almost boring: rings of carbon atoms that can be drawn either with alternating triple and single bonds, or all double bonds. But their simplicity is deceptive, as these compounds remained impossible to make for decades. Only in the last few years have chemists managed to push the limits of synthesis far enough to gain insights into these new molecular forms of pure carbon – some of which could change how we define aromaticity.