Another aromaticity vs non-aromaticity dilemma: The structure of anti-1,6:8,13-biscarbonyl [14]annulene

The X-ray crystal structure determination of anti-1,6:8,13-bis-carbonyl 14] annulene (1) is described. The structure has been solved by direct methods and refined to an R of 0.046 for 1074 reflections with I > 2σ(I). The molecular structure of 1 appears to be aromatic, at least from geometrical parameters. This is in contrast with the great tendency of the compound to polymerize and also with the structure of the anti-bridged 14]annulenes previously studied, having polyenic character. It is possible that the geometry of the compound appears to be ‘aromatic’ due to disorder in the crystal.