Fulvalenes

A fulvalene is a hydrocarbon obtained by formally cross-conjugating two rings through a common exocyclic double bond. The name is derived from the similarly structured fulvenes which lack one ring. Pentafulvalene (2) is also called simply fulvalene, the parent structure of this class. Triapentafulvalene (3) is also known as calicene from the words calix or chalice because of its wine-glass appearance.