Cyclotetradecaheptaene, often referred to as [14]annulene, is a hydrocarbon with molecular formula C<sub>14</sub>H<sub>14</sub>, which played an important role in the development of criteria (Hückel's rule) for aromaticity, a stabilizing property of central importance in physical organic chemistry. It forms dark-red needle-like crystals.
Although the conjugated ring of [14]annulene contains 4n+2 electrons, it only exhibits limited evidence for being aromatic. It does not fully conform to Hückel's rule because none of its cis/trans isomers can adopt a completely planar conformation due to crowding of the interior hydrogens. There is evidence that it has two isomeric forms of comparable stability (trans, cis, trans, cis, trans, trans, cis- with four interior hydrogens (shown in the infobox) and trans, cis, trans, cis, trans, cis, cis- with three interior hydrogens) which rapidly interconvert at room temperature but can be observed at low temperature by NMR. Its <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectrum shows evidence of aromatic ring currents that result in an upfield shift for the interior hydrogens. In contrast, the corresponding [12]- and [16]annulenes, which are weakly antiaromatic or nonaromatic, have downfield shifted interior hydrogens. However, unlike the undoubtedly aromatic [18]annulene, [14]annulene does not bear the hallmark aromatic property of chemical stability, and it quickly decomposes when exposed to light and air.