CHAPTER 2 AROMATICITY 87
The proton NMR (1H NMR) spectrum of 118 (called kekulene) showed that in a case where electrons can form either aromatic sextets or larger systems, the sextets are preferred.308 There was initial speculation that kekulene might be superaro- matic, that is, it would show enhanced aromatic stabilization. Recent calculations suggest that there is no enhanced stabilization.309 The 48 p electrons of 118 might, in theory, prefer structure 118a, where each ring is a fused benzene ring, or 118b, which has a [30]annulene on the outside and an [18]annulene on the inside. The 1H NMR spectrum of this compound shows three peaks at d ¼ 7:94, 8.37, and 10.45 in a ratio of 2:1:1. It is seen from the structure that 118 contains three groups of protons. The peak at 7.94 d is attributed to the 12 ortho protons and the peak at 8.37 d to the six external para protons. The remaining peak comes from the six inner protons. If the molecule preferred 118b, we would expect to find this peak upfield, probably with a negative d, as in the case of 115. The fact that this peak is far downfield indicates that the electrons prefer to be in benzenoid rings. Note that in the case of the dianion of 117, we have the opposite situation. In this ion, the 38-electron system is preferred even though 24 of these must come from the six benzene rings, which therefore cannot have aromatic sextets.