Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Preparation of 6-aminocyclohepta-2,4-dien-1-one Derivatives via Tricarbonyltroponeiron
Published on: August 12, 2019
On-Surface Cyclization of ortho-Dihalotetracenes to Four- and Six-Membered Rings
Carlos Sánchez-Sánchez1,2, Adrien Nicolaï3, Frédéric Rossel1
1Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
Abstract:
We report on the surface-catalyzed formal [2+2] and [2+2+2] cycloadditions of ortho-activated tetracene species on a Ag(111) substrate under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. Three different products are obtained: tetracene dimers, trimers, and tetramers. The former results from the formation of a four-membered ring while the other two arise from cyclization into six-membered rings. These on-surface reactions have been monitored by scanning tunneling microscopy and rationalized by density functional theory calculations. Our approach, based on the reaction of ortho-dihalo precursor monomers via formal cycloadditions, establishes an additional method for the highly active field of on-surface synthesis and enables the development of novel 1D and 2D covalent carbon nanostructures.
Related Concept Videos
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
[4+2] Cycloaddition of Conjugated Dienes: Diels–Alder Reaction
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations: Structural Overview
Removing one hydrogen from the intervening CH2 group...
Cycloaddition Reactions: Overview
Halogenation of Alkenes
Consider the bromination of cyclopentene. Molecular bromine is polarized in the proximity of the π electrons of cyclopentene. An electrophilic bromine atom adds across the double bond, forming a cyclic bromonium ion intermediate.
![Cercosporin-Photocatalyzed [4+1]- and [4+2]-Annulations of Azoalkenes Under Mild Conditions](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F60786.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
![Solid-phase Synthesis of [4.4] Spirocyclic Oximes](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F58508.jpg&w=3840&q=50)