In 1 there are infinite polyene chains (no assumption made as yet concerning bond localization within each chain) running along two dimensions and no conjugation along the third dimension. While the network is free from angle strain, it is not free from “*-strain”. The n-clouds of neighboring polyenes are much too close together. If a C C distance of 1.44 A within a polyene is assumed, then the perpendicular distance between polyene chains is 2.494 A, far from comfortable from what we know about ?r-systems impacting on each other.6 However, it is just this enforced proximity of the n-clouds of the polyene chains that is going to make 1 metallic. The density of 1 is an attractive 2.97 g ~ m ~ , assuming CC 1.44 A. This is close to diamond and graphite, 3.51 and 2.27 g ~ m ~ , respectively.’ The smallest rings in 1 contain 10 and 12 carbons. The network has an interesting deformation available to it, the result of rotating around all the ‘vertical” bonds. This leaves all CCC angles at 120°, increases the density, but brings the polyenes still closer together. The space group of 1 is I4,/amd, with eight atoms in the unit cell. The band structure of 1, approximated by an extended Huckels