Dicarbene-cumulene

Linear C species may be represented simply as shown in Fig. 1-6. For an even number of carbons, the simplest electronic structure may be either a dicarbene-cumulene structure, or a diradical-polyyne . The corresponding cyclic structures will be nonlinear and strained, but formally possess closed-shell cumulene or polyyne structures. These differ by having all bond lengths equal, or alternating bond lengths, respectively. For it = odd, the linear structures may be of the dicarbene-cumulene or tetraradical-polyyne type. The cyclic isomers may be cumulene or carbene-polyyne . 

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