Synthesis of octagon-containing molecular nanocarbons

Nanocarbons, such as fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphenes, have long inspired the scientific community. In order to synthesize nanocarbon molecules in an atomically precise fashion, many synthetic reactions have been developed. The ultimate challenge for synthetic chemists in nanocarbon science is the creation of periodic three-dimensional (3D) carbon crystals. In 1991, Mackay and Terrones proposed periodic 3D carbon crystals with negative Gaussian curvatures that consist of six- and eight-membered rings (the so-called Mackay-Terrones crystals). The existence of the eight-membered rings causes a warped nanocarbon structure. The Mackay-Terrones crystals are considered a "dream material", and have been predicted to exhibit extraordinary mechanical, magnetic, and optoelectronic properties (harder than diamond, for example). To turn the dream of having this wonder material into reality, the development of methods enabling the creation of octagon-embedding polycyclic structures (or nanographenes) is of fundamental and practical importance. This review describes the most vibrant synthetic achievements that the scientific community has performed to obtain curved polycyclic nanocarbons with eight-membered rings, building blocks that could potentially give access as templates to larger nanographenes, and eventually to Mackay-Terrones crystals, by structural expansion strategies.

Palladium-catalyzed diastereoselective cross-coupling of two aryl halides via C–H activation: synthesis of chiral eight-membered nitrogen heterocycles

The diastereoselective cross-coupling reaction of two aryl halides has been developed through C–H activation. The reaction represents a novel strategy for the construction of chiral eight-membered nitrogen heterocycles.

Enantiopure Aromatic Saddles Bearing the Fenestrindane Core

The synthesis of enantiomerically pure, configurationally stable fenestrindane-based polyaromatic compounds with saddle-like structures is reported. Seven racemic fenestrane synthetic precursors were first screened by chiral HPLC for resolvability into enantiomers. Among the three resolvable precursors, a tribenzofenestrene derivative was resolved on a semipreparative scale, and the absolute configuration of the more slowly eluting enantiomer was established by X-ray crystallography. The enantiopure tribenzofenestrenes were then separately converted, in six steps, to the saddle-shaped fenestrindane derivatives in optically pure form. The two enantiomeric pairs of saddles were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. All new compounds reported herein represent the first enantiopure non-natural carbocyclic fenestranes isolated to date.

Synthesis of tetraphenylene derivatives and their recent advances

The synthetic strategies towards tetraphenylene derivatives are comprehensively summarized in this review. Recent advances in the functionalized tetraphenylene skeleton for research into their structurally unique properties are described together with their potential applications.

Synthesis of 2-substituted tetraphenylenes via transition-metal-catalyzed derivatization of tetraphenylene

A new strategy for the synthesis of 2-substituted tetraphenylenes through a transition-metal-catalyzed derivatization has been developed. Three types of functionalities, including OAc, X (Cl, Br, I) and carbonyl, were introduced onto tetraphenylene, which allows the easy access to a variety of monosubstituted tetraphenylenes. These reactions could accelerate research on the properties and application of tetraphenylene derivatives.

Chiral nanoribbons based on doubly-linked oligo-perylene bisimides

A facile strategy towards conformationally stable chiral ladder-type oligo-perylene bisimides is established via copper-mediated Ullmann coupling. Absolute configurations are determined with the help of quantum-chemical calculations.

Saddle-shaped tetraphenylenes with peripheral gallic esters displaying columnar mesophases

Tetraphenylenes 2 with eight peripheral gallic esters were prepared in two steps from octamethoxytetraphenylene 1 in 19-72% yield. Investigation of the mesomorphic properties of 2 by DSC, POM and X-ray diffraction revealed that derivatives 2a-d with short alkoxy chain lengths (C(5)-C(8)) did not show any mesomorphic properties, whereas compounds 2e-i with C(9)-C(13) chains displayed rectangular columnar mesophases and compounds 2j-l with C(14)-C(16) chains displayed hexagonal columnar mesophases. Furthermore an anomalous odd-even effect of the clearing points of compounds 2e-l versus chain length was detected.