Coarctate and Möbius: The Helical Orbitalsof Allene and Other Cumulenes

摘要

As brought to the attention of the community by Hendon et al. and noted by previous workers, the π orbitals of the equilibrium geometry odd-carbon (even number of double bonds = n) [n]cumulenes may be written in either rectilinear or helical form. We trace the origins and detailed composition of the helical orbitals of cumulenes, which emerge in the simplest Hückel model and are not much modified in advanced computations. For the α,ω-disubstituted even [n]cumulenes, the helical representation is obligatory as the symmetry is reduced from D2d to C2. A relationship is apparent between these helical orbitals of the even [n]cumulenes, seen as a Herges coarctate system, and the corresponding Möbius cyclic polyene orbitals. The twist of the orbitals varies in interesting ways along the helix, and so does the contribution of the component atomic orbitals. Though the electronic structures of even [n]cumulenes and Möbius cyclopolyenes are closely related, they differ for higher n in intriguing ways; these are linked to the constrained rotation of the basis orbitals along the helical twist itinerary.Relations are constructed between the level patterns of the π-systemsof even [n]cumulenes and ideas of Hückel andMöbius aromaticity.