Will cyclooctatetraene exhibt aromatic character ? Explain.

Explanation

Since cyclooctatetraene does not contain (4n+2) `pi`-electrons, it does not exhibit aromatic character.
As cyclooctatetraene has `4npi` -electrons (n=2) ,it should be an antiaromatic compound. Howerver, the ring of this compound is very large in size and so it does not exist in the unstable planar shape, rather it forms a tubshaped structure . As a result, conjugation is lost and so cyclooctatetraene is a non-aromatic compound.

Cyclooctatetraene (planar) Cyclooctatetraene (tub-shaped) [antiaromatic and unstable, 4np-electron system ,n=2]
[non-aromatic and relatively stable]