# Is [7]сirculene aromatic or anti-aromatic?

This compound is called [7]circulene and is one of the examples of non-planar aromatic systems (1). From the first overview of this compound, it is observed that there are 7 benzene rings so one would conclude that it is an aromatic compound:

There are $7 \times 4 = 28$ $\pi$-electrons, so this compound satisfies the criteria of anti-aromacity. Then how come this compound is aromatic?

(1) Smith, M. March’s advanced organic chemistry: reactions, mechanisms, and structure, 7th ed.; Wiley: Hoboken, New Jersey, 2013, p. 48, compound 40.

TL;DR: We don't count $\pi$ electrons here, but the $\pi$ conjugated circuits (1). [7]-сirculene has all conjugated circles of size $4n + 2$, and none of $2n$, what makes it an aromatic compound.

Strictly speaking, the aromaticity $4n + 2$ and antiaromaticity $4n$ rules in their original interpretation are very limited and cannot be universally applied:

According to the original Hückel $4n + 2$ rule, if a monocyclic, planar molecule has $4n + 2$ $\pi$ electrons, it is considered aromatic.

But the count of $\pi$ electrons is not what matters for polycyclic compounds, therefore a generalized $4n + 2$ rule exists: if a conjugated molecule has only $4n + 2$ $\pi$ conjugated circuits, it is considered aromatic.

Non-benzenoid compounds can have both $4n + 2$ as well as $4n$ number of conjugated circuits counted by taking into account all Kekule structures. Among non-benzenoid non-alternant polycyclic hydrocarbons [5]-сirculene and [7]-сirculene both have only $4n + 2$ ($6, 10, 14, ...$) numbers of circuits.

(1) Gutman, I.; Cyvin, S. J. Journal of Molecular Structure: THEOCHEM 1989, 184 (1), 159–163.

Also, check out this question regarding pyrene.

• If you don't mind can you please provide definition of antiaromacity in case of conjugated polycyclic rings? I think I got all mixed up. In which cases 4n pi electrons rule is valid for determining antiaromacity? – Swastik Jul 13 '17 at 5:56
• @Swastik I guess the easiest way to determine limitations of this rule is to apply to the definition of antiaromaticity. $4n$ $\pi$ electrones ruleis only applicable to monocyclic planar conjugated systems, which [7]сirculene is not. – andselisk Jul 13 '17 at 6:02