An alternative description of aromaticity in metallabenzenes

Experimental and theoretical studies of metallabenzenes have revealed important differences in their aromatic properties when compared with their organic analogs. In this work, an alternative explanation for this unconventional behavior is presented based on the idea that metallabenzenes can be conceived as an intermediate structure between the benzene and the benzenium ion; an idea derived from a critical analysis of the isolobal analogies in metallabenzenes.