Talk:Linear acetylenic carbon

Kroto versus Cataldo

I am trying to understand the extent of Kroto's recent debunking of "carbyne". He obviously accepts the reality of polyyines of Chalifoux & Tykwinski (2010, 2x24 carbons) but it seems he denies those of Lagow, Kampa &al. (1995, 300 carbons) as being fullerenes and other stuff. Right?
What about the claims of Cataldo (1999)? If the products of Glaser's reaction are polyacetylide anions instead of neutral carbon, would that exempt them from Kroto's anathema? There are plenty of examples of unstable neutral molecules that are stable as anions. Would it be plausible that only two negative charges suffice to stabilize Cataldo's very long (400-500 atom) polyacetylide anions? --Jorge Stolfi (talk) 02:22, 8 February 2013 (UTC)

Contradiction?

Surely this line: "However its existence in condensed phases has been contested recently, as such chains would crosslink exothermically (and perhaps explosively) if they approached each other." from the introduction contradicts this line: "The material is stable at room temperature, largely resisting crosslinks with nearby chains." from the Properties section. Which is correct?Fork me (talk) 09:46, 3 February 2014 (UTC)

It suggests that contestors are wrong, but its not quite inconsistent. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 09:53, 3 February 2014 (UTC)

Definition of carbyne?

Our article defines carbyne as a linear chain of carbons with alternating single and triple bonds. This article says "Carbyne is a chain of carbon atoms held together by either double or alternating single and triple atomic bonds." Should we adjust our definition? AxelBoldt (talk) 19:06, 10 April 2016 (UTC)

In one sense, these are just resonance structures of each other. But depending on the end-groups and other specifics, one or the other may be a better description of each individual member of this structural class. The all-double-bond form is a cumulene. Per our article, "carbyne" and "cumulene" are used specifically to describe the two respective forms. But per the cited ref by Cataldo, the triple–single vs cumulene/all-double forms are sometimes instead identified as alpha-carbyne and beta-carbyne, respectively. I can't access that full ref, but this terminology should definitely be clarified early in our article since it's fundamental to the identity of the topic (not just a side-note for one reactive aspect of it). DMacks (talk) 19:33, 10 April 2016 (UTC)

In this system, would "Linear acetylenic carbon" be a synonym for alpha-carbyne, or a synonym for the more general term carbyne? AxelBoldt (talk) 18:47, 11 April 2016 (UTC)