ABSTRACT:The strain energy for the parent, perfluoro-, and perchlorocycloalkanes (C n X 2n , X ϭ H, F, and Cl, n ϭ 3-6) is evaluated using a variety of equations (homodesmotic, group increment, and diagonal) and density functional theory calculations [B3P86/6-311ϩG(2df,p)//6-311G(d)]. Literature trends are reproduced for the fluorinated species. Results, although explained, for chlorinated compounds are still a source of surprise: The strain energy of perchlorocyclopropane is small and may well be negative.