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Updated: May 3, 2026

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Published on: March 4, 2021
Octafunctionalized biphenylenes: molecular precursors for isomeric graphene nanostructures
Florian Schlütter1, Tomohiko Nishiuchi, Volker Enkelmann
1Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz (Germany).
Abstract:
A straightforward method for the octafunctionalization of biphenylene based on the [2+2]-cycloaddition of an aryne intermediate has been developed. This enabled a "North-South" extension of biphenylene towards isomeric graphene nanoribbons composed of four-, six-, and eight-membered rings. This procedure furthermore allowed an "East-West" expansion to [n]phenylenes with different lengths. For the fabrication of isomeric nanongraphenes, octaarylbiphenylenes decorated with phenyl, pyrenyl, and thieno substituents were prepared. The subsequent oxidative cyclodehydrogenation provided an expanded helicene as a model compound.
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