Local aromaticity study of heterocycles using n-center delocalization indices: the role of aromaticity on the relative stability of position isomers

A quantitative study on local aromaticity based on n-center electron delocalization indices, n being the number of atoms in the ring, is performed on a series of heterocycles containing N, O or S. The results indicate that the order of stability within a series of position isomers is not controlled by aromaticity but by other structural factors. Thus, for a certain series of monocycles position isomers (diazoles, triazoles, tetrazoles, diazines, triazines, and tetrazines) the most stable compound is the least aromatic one and vice versa. However, aromaticity controls the stability for series of isomers where these structural factors are similar. For the case of isocompounds, like isobenzopyrrole, isobenzofuran or isobenzothiophene, the large decrease in the aromaticity of the benzene ring with regard to their isomers makes them less stable.