Kinds of dienes
Atoms other than carbon which are capable of multiple bonds may also participate in con-
jugation. The heteroatoms most often associated with conjugation in dienes and other
molecules are nitrogen and oxygen, but theoretically the majority of atoms in the Peri-
odic Table of Elements could participate in conjugation chemistry. Most often, in organic
molecules, heteroatoms participating in conjugation will be nitrogen atoms within a ring
structure or a double-bonded oxygen attached to form a ketone or aldehyde.
Conjugation of double bonds is the largest part of what makes aromaticity relevant in
organic chemistry, and conjugated double bonds have many other significant impacts on
other types of dienes as well.