Aromatic compounds exhibit greater stability than other cyclic compounds primarily due to their ability to delocalize electrons across a cyclic structure, as explained by Molecular Orbital Theory (MOT). This delocalization leads to a lower energy state, contributing to aromatic stability. In contrast, anti-aromatic compounds, which possess a similar cyclic structure but have a non-bonding electron configuration that disrupts this delocalization, are significantly less stable. The presence of fully occupied orbitals in anti-aromatic compounds results in increased electron-electron repulsion and higher energy levels, leading to their instability. The discussion emphasizes the importance of electron configuration and delocalization in determining the stability of cyclic compounds.
