Relationship between resonance energy per pi-electron and carcinogenicity in arenes
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Updated: Nov 5, 2026

Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals
Published on: April 19, 2019
T Kurihara1, N Motohashi, A Shimizu
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Josai University, Saitama, Japan.
Abstract:
The resonance energy per pi-electron of various arenes was calculated using Aihara's TRE theory. There seemed to be a correlation between the resonance energy volume per pi-electron of the cation species (lacking a carbon atom) with the highest approximate superdelocalizability (Sr'(E)) from the parent skeleton and carcinogenicity, i.e. the induction of cancer by arenes (three-ring, four-ring, five-ring, six-ring and seven-ring) seems to be dependent on the resonance energy per pi-electron in they contain).
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Acidity of 1-Alkynes
The acidic strength of hydrocarbons follows the order: Alkynes > Alkenes > Alkanes. The strength of an acid is commonly expressed in units of pKa — the lower the pKa, the stronger the acid. Among the hydrocarbons, terminal alkynes have lower pKa values and are, therefore, more acidic. For example, the pKa values for ethane, ethene, and acetylene are 51, 44, and 25, respectively, as shown here.
Resonance
Basicity of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines

