Five Points for Graphene Nanobowls!

Key words

nanographenes - polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - Scholl cyclization

Significance

Given the difficulty of studying the chemical properties of graphene directly, many researchers have turned to the use of small molecules as model systems. In this report, the authors demonstrate the synthesis of a model system for porous nanographenes. Anion binding, electronic properties, and aggregation are probed in the final product.

Comment

The formation of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be low yielding. The iterative process developed by the authors, involving the deprotection of an alkoxyphenol with Br₃B, followed by triflation and subsequent Suzuki–­Miyaura coupling, however, allowed for the expedient synthesis of 5 in good yield. Elaboration to form 7 enabled analysis by X-ray crystallography, revealing a ‘wizard-hat shaped’ molecule.