Graphene‐like Molecules with Four Zigzag Edges

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 57; no. 22; pp. 6541 - 6545
• Main Authors: Gu, Yanwei, Wu, Xiaojin, Gopalakrishna, Tullimilli Y., Phan, Hoa, Wu, Jishan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: WEINHEIM Wiley 28.05.2018; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: Aromaticity; Chemistry; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Crystallography; Graphene; Molecular chains; Physical Sciences; polycycles; radicals; Science & Technology; structure elucidation; Topology; ACENES; radicals; NANORIBBONS; ORGANIC ELECTRONICS; STATE; structure elucidation; graphene; HYDROCARBON; aromaticity; polycycles; RIBBONS
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201802818

An efficient synthetic method toward graphene‐like molecules (GLMs), having four zigzag edges, is described. They were obtained as stable materials and their structures were confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. They exhibit topology‐ and size‐dependent electronic properties and global aromaticity, which are all different from GLMs having either all‐armchair edges, or three zigzag edges, or two armchair/two zigzag edges. They can be reversibly oxidized and reduced into stable charged species, which show fragmental aromatic character to minimize anti‐aromaticity. Our studies give some new insights into the electronic structures and properties of a new type of rarely studied GLMs. Take the zigzag: An efficient method was developed to access graphene‐like molecules (GLMs) with four zigzag edges. These compounds exhibit different geometries and electronic properties compared to GLMs having other edge structures. They also show moderate energy gaps and global aromatic character.