Molecular polarisability. Carbon–carbon bond polarisabilities in relation to bond lengths

Abstract

The suggestion is made and examined that ‘vertical’ polarisabilities of C–C bonds in planar polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons can be computed from known C–C inter-centre distances, and that molecular polarisabilities, b₃, perpendicular to the ring-planes, can be obtained therefrom by appropriate summations. In-plane polarisabilities, b₁ and b₂, can then be extracted from observed molar Kerr constants and refractions. A related proposition for longitudinal bond polarisabilities is also considered.