Graph theory and molecular orbitals. XII. Acyclic polyenes

A graph-theoretical study of acyclic polyenes is carried out with an emphasis on the influence of branching on several molecular properties. A definition of branching is given and several branching indices are analyzed. The case of polyenes without a Kekulé structure is discussed briefly. The main conclusions are: (a) thermodynamic stability of conjugated polyenes decreases with branching, but (b) reactivity, in general, increases with branching.