Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of a Cylinder-Shaped Cyclo[12]orthophenylene[6]ethynylene: Toward the Synthesis of Zigzag Carbon Nanobelts.

Benzannulated cyclacenes (BCs) have been proposed as stable zigzag carbon nanobelts. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed a closed-shell ground state for [12]BC, whereas an open-shell ground state was suggested for [12]cyclacene. The calculated strain energy and frontier molecular orbital energies of [12]BC also implied high stability. An unstrained macrocycle 1, consisting of orthophenylene and ethynylene moieties, was designed as a potential precursor for [12]BC and synthesized by sequential Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of diphenylacetylene derivatives. While the conversion of 1 into [12]BC is still under investigation, an unexpected rearrangement of the triene moieties in 1, affording a tribenzo[f,k,m]tetraphene structure, was discovered during the screening of reaction conditions. An attempt was made to rationalize this result by proposing a plausible reaction mechanism that proceeds via intermediates containing cyclobutadiene or Dewar benzene moieties. The proposed mechanism is partially supported by DFT calculations.

Design and Synthesis of Carbon Nanotube Segments.

The selective and predictable synthesis of structurally uniform carbon nanotubes (CNTs) represents a long-standing goal in both nanocarbon science and synthetic organic chemistry. This Review focuses on synthetic studies toward the controlled synthesis of CNTs with single chirality through the organic synthesis of CNT segments and the organic template assisted growth of CNTs.

All-benzene carbon nanocages: size-selective synthesis, photophysical properties, and crystal structure.

The design and synthesis of a series of carbon nanocages consisting solely of benzene rings are described. Carbon nanocages are appealing molecules not only because they represent junction unit structures of branched carbon nanotubes, but also because of their potential utilities as unique optoelectronic π-conjugated materials and guest-encapsulating hosts. Three sizes of strained, conjugated [n.n.n]carbon nanocages (1, n = 4; 2, n = 5; 3, n = 6) were synthesized with perfect size-selectivity. Cyclohexane-containing units and 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzene-containing units were assembled to yield the minimally strained bicyclic precursors, which were successfully converted into the corresponding carbon nanocages via acid-mediated aromatization. X-ray crystallography of 1 confirmed the cage-shaped structure with an approximately spherical void inside the cage molecule. The present studies revealed the unique properties of carbon nanocages, including strain energies, size-dependent absorption and fluorescence, as well as unique size-dependency for the electronic features of 1-3.

Selective synthesis of [7]- and [8]cycloparaphenylenes.

Cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) are a remarkable class of hoop-shaped conjugated macrocycles with inimitable properties. Herein we describe a divergent synthesis of [7]CPP and [8]CPP. Furthermore we present the first crystal structure of [7]CPP. Thus, we have now established the size-selective synthesis of [n]CPP (n = 7-16) in a uniformed cyclohexane-based method.

Synthesis and properties of cycloparaphenylene-2,5-pyridylidene: a nitrogen-containing carbon nanoring.

The first synthesis of a nitrogen-containing cycloparaphenylene, cyclo[14]paraphenylene[4]2,5-pyridylidene ([14,4]CPPy), has been achieved. A palladium-catalyzed stepwise assembly of 2,2'-bipyridine, benzene, and L-shaped cyclohexane units, followed by NaHSO(4)/o-chloranil-mediated aromatization, successfully provided [14,4]CPPy. While the absorption and fluorescence properties of [14,4]CPPy were somewhat similar to those of cycloparaphenylenes (λ(abs) = 344 nm, ε = 7.3 × 10(4) cm(-1) M(-1), λ(em) = 427 nm, Φ(F) = 0.80), it was found that [14,4]CPPy possesses an interesting halochromic property.