An aromaticity scale based on the topological analysis of the electron localization function including σ and π contributions

Abstract

In this work, the average bifurcation value of the electron localization function (ELF) of both σ (ELFσ) and π (ELFπ) contributions was used to construct an aromaticity scale for chemical compounds. We have validated the scale with a series of well-known molecules and then used it to evaluate global aromaticity on aluminum based clusters, which present σ aromaticity and π antiaromaticity. The proposed scaled predicts an overall antiaromatic character for the Al4 4- moiety