Mellitic Trianhydride, C12O9: The Aromatic Oxide of Carbon†

Use of the ipsocentric method to map the pattern of current induced by a perpendicular magnetic field in the mellitic trianhydride molecule shows that, in addition to localized current associated with the carbonyl and oxygen centers, the field induces a strong central benzene-like ring current, thus indicating aromaticity on the magnetic criterion for this polycyclic oxide of carbon.