On the ordering of benzenoid chains and cyclo-polyphenacenes with respect to their numbers of Clar aromatic sextets

Based on Clar aromatic sextet theory [Clar, The Aromatic Serxtet (Wiley, New York, 1972)] and the concept of sextet polynomial introduced by Hosoya and Yamaguchi [Mathematical Concepts in Organic Chemistry (Springer, Berlin, 1986)], we define a new ordering of benzenoid systems. For two isomeric benzenoid systems B ₁ and B ₂, we say B ₁>B ₂ if each coefficient of sextet polynomial of B ₁ is no less than the corresponding coefficient of sextet polynomial of B ₂. In this paper, we consider the ordering of the benzenoid chains. The maximal and second maximal benzenoid chains as well as the minimal, the second minimal up to the fourth minimal benzenoid chains are determined. Furthermore, under this ordering, we determine the maximal and second maximal cyclo-polyphenacenes as well as the minimal, the second minimal, and up to the seventh minimal cyclo-polyphenacenes. © 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.