The simplest, yet the most important
compound in this class of organic compounds is benzene itself.
Arenes are hydrocarbons
based on benzene units.
"Aromatic" was originally
used to describe these compounds since many have pleasent smells.
To the chemist, the word
aromatic also carries with it stability and reactivity implications.
The unusual stability of benzene
compared to closely related alkenes is what makes it important and gives benzene
its own set of characteristic reactions.
Reactions of benzenes are often
quite recognisable from other systems by the forcing reaction conditions that
are often required.
