Spherical Aromaticity of Inorganic Cage Molecules

Not only fullerenes but also inorganic cage molecules can be highly spherical aromatic. The molecular allotropes 1 (E=N, P, As, Sb, Bi) of the Group V elements and a variety of Zintl anions are even double spherical aromatic and obey the 2(N+1)2 rule, since both their σ and π shells are completely filled. This is reflected by a pronounced diatropic character.