Topological Approach to the Chemistry of Conjugated Molecules Paperback / softback

"The second step is to determine constitution, Le. which atoms are bonded to which and by what types of bond.

The result is ex­ pressed by a planar graph (or the corresponding connectivity mat­ rix) •••• In constitutional formulae, the atoms are represented by letters and the bonds by lines.

They describe the topology of the molecule." VLADIMIR PRELOG, Nobel Lecture, December l2;h 1975.

In the present notes we describe the topological approach to the che­ mistry of conjugated molecules using graph-theoretical concepts.

Con­ jugatedstructures may be conveniently studied using planar and connec­ ted graphs because they reflect in the simple way the connectivity of their pi-centers.

Connectivity is important topological property of a molecule which allows a conceptual qualitative understanding, via a non­ numerical analysis, of many chemical phenomena or at least that part of phenomenon which depends on topology.

This would not be possible sole­ ly by means of numerical (molecular orbital) analysis.