Conjugation


Fully conjugated molecules have alternating single and double bonds along the backbone of the molecule. This has some additional effects on the molecules properties:

  1. The pz orbitals overlap which leads to delocalisation of the π electron cloud above and below the plane of the molecule.
  2. Aromaticity can result if Huckel's Law is satisfied (there are 4n+2 π electrons, where n is any integer).

In the case of conducting polymers, the pz delocalised molecular orbital runs along the whole chain length and allows easy transport of charge through a "hopping" mechanism.