WANI Dictionary

Aromatic

Traditionally, "aromatic" referred to compounds with a structure typified by benzene [1].

The definition of "aromatic" has expanded to include cyclically conjugated molecular entities that are significantly more stable than hypothetical localized structures [1].

Definitions in the literature

• In the traditional sense, 'having a chemistry typified by benzene'. A cyclically conjugated molecular entity with a stability (due to delocalization ) significantly greater than that of a hypothetical localized structure (e.g. Kekulé structure ) is said to possess aromatic character [1]:.