Aromaticity and Extrusion of Benzenoids Linked to [o-COSAN]- : Clar Has the Answer.

Benzene and pyrene can be synthetically linked to [o-COSAN]- keeping their aromaticity. In contrast, naphthalene and anthracene are extruded in the same reaction. We have proven that extrusion is only favorable if the number of Clar's π-sextets remains constant. Thus, Clar has the answer to whether an attached polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon to [o-COSAN]- is extruded or not.