joniaguis - 5-5-2009 at 13:08
I have the following question from a past paper:
" Hydrogenation of acenaphthylene under controlled conditions gives rise to the di hydro derivative following an addition of a hydrogen molecule.
Can acenaphthylene be considered as an aroomatic compound? Explain and give the structure of the dihydro derivative. Would you expect further
hydrogenation to be resisted or not? Explain your answer."
I know that acenaphthylene is an aromatic compound but I don't know why exactly. It has a planar structure and can achieve delocalisation but it does
not obey the 4n + 2 rule. And do the hydrogenation occur on the alkene bridge and it will resist further hydrogenation?