Warped carbon-rich molecules have captured the imagination of scientists across many disciplines. Owing to their promising materials properties and challenging synthesis, strained hydrocarbons are attractive targets that push the limits of synthetic methods and molecular design. Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of [5]cycloparaphenylene ([5]CPP), a carbon nanohoop that can be envisaged as an open tubular fragment of C60, the equator of C70 fullerene and the unit cycle of a [5,5] armchair carbon nanotube. Given its calculated 119 kcal mol(-1) strain energy and severely distorted benzene rings, this synthesis, which employs a room-temperature macrocyclization of a diboronate precursor, single-electron reduction and elimination, is remarkably mild and high yielding (27% over three steps). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data were obtained to confirm its geometry and previously disputed benzenoid character. First and second pseudoreversible oxidation and reduction events were observed via cyclic voltammetry. The ease of synthesis, high solubility and narrowest optical HOMO/LUMO gap of any para-polyphenylene synthesized make [5]CPP a desirable new material for organic electronics.

A geometrically selective bottom-up synthesis of curved nanographenes is described. The synthetic methodology used involves the extension of the π-system of positively curved corannulene by a [4+2] cycloaddition reaction followed by cyclodehydrogenation (Scholl oxidation). By selecting the conditions for the Scholl oxidation, the formation of a sevenmembered ring that also confers negative curvature to the resulting nanographene can be activated, offering two topologically distinct, curved nanographenes from a common precursor. Additionally, the structure−property relationship in these new nanographenes is explored via theoretical, electrochemical, photophysical, Raman, and X-ray crystallographic studies.

A rigid, inherently chiral bilayer nanographene has been synthesized as both the racemate and enantioenriched M isomer (with 93 % ee) in three steps from established helicenes. This folded nanographene is composed of two hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene layers fused to a [10]helicene, with an interlayer distance of 3.6 Å as determined by X-ray crystallography. The rigidity of the helicene linker forces the layers to adopt a nearly aligned AA-stacked conformation, rarely observed in few-layer graphene. By combining the advantages of nanographenes and helicenes, we have constructed a bilayer system of 30 fused benzene rings that is also chiral, rigid, and remains soluble in common organic solvents. We present this as a molecular model system of bilayer graphene, with properties of interest in a variety of potential applications.

CONSPECTUS:Chirality is a fascinating property present in naturally occurring and artificial molecules and materials, observable as chiroptical behavior. The emerging area of carbon nanostructures has undergone tremendous development, with a wide variety of carbon nanoforms reported over the last two decades. However, despite interest in merging chirality and nanocarbons, this has been successfully achieved only in empty fullerenes, whereas in other kinds of fullerenes or carbon nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphene quantum dots (GQDs), to name the most popular systems, it is almost unknown. Therefore, controlling chirality in carbon nanostructures currently represents a major challenge for the chemical community. In this Account, we show our progress in the synthesis of chiral molecular carbon nanostructures, namely, metallofullerenes, endohedral fullerenes, GQDs, and curved molecular nanographenes, by using asymmetric catalysis and both topdown and bottom-up chemical approaches. Furthermore, we bring in a new family of lesser-known molecular chiral bilayer nanographenes, where chirality is introduced from the starting helicene moiety and a single enantiomer of the nanographene is synthesized. Some important landmarks in the development of chiral molecular carbon nanostructures shown in this Account are the application of synthesis-tailored, enantiomerically pure metallofullerenes as catalysts for hydrogen transfer reactions and the use of endohedral fullerenes to determine the effect of the incarcerated molecule in the carbon cage on the cis−trans stereoisomerization of optically active pendent moieties. Furthermore, the first top-down synthesis of chiral GQDs by functionalization with chiral alcohols is also presented. An emerging alternative to GQDs, when the desire for purity and atomistic control outweighs the cost of multistep synthesis, is the bottom-up approach, in which molecular nanographenes are formed in precise sizes and shapes and enantiomeric control is feasible. In this regard, a singular and amazing example is given by our synthesis of a single enantiomer of the first chiral bilayer nanographene, which formally represents a new family of molecular nanographenes with chirality controlled and maintained throughout their syntheses. The aforementioned synthetic chiral nanostructures represent groundbreaking nanocarbon systems where chirality is a further dimension of structural control, paving the way to a new scenario for carbon nanoforms in which chirality selection determines the properties of these novel carbon-based materials. Fine-tuning of such properties is envisioned to impact biomedical and materials science applications.

Rigid hydrocarbon macrocycles with radially-oriented π-systems and continuous conjugation have attracted great interest in recent years. These molecular belts have novel optoelectronic properties and host-guest behavior. Certain belts may also ultimately lead to a rational synthesis of carbon nanotubes. The high strain associated with the nonplanar, conjugated backbones requires the development of new synthetic methods, and clever synthetic design. Herein we describe the synthetic history and properties of these structurally simple but synthetically challenging molecules.

A rigid, inherently chiral bilayer nanographene has been synthesized as both the racemate and enantioenriched M isomer (with 93 % ee) in three steps from established helicenes. This folded nanographene is composed of two hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene layers fused to a [10]helicene, with an interlayer distance of 3.6 Å as determined by X‐ray crystallography. The rigidity of the helicene linker forces the layers to adopt a nearly aligned AA‐stacked conformation, rarely observed in few‐layer graphene. By combining the advantages of nanographenes and helicenes, we have constructed a bilayer system of 30 fused benzene rings that is also chiral, rigid, and remains soluble in common organic solvents. We present this as a molecular model system of bilayer graphene, with properties of interest in a variety of potential applications.

Cyclic conjugation and Biradical formation in charged cycloparaphenylenes are described by Raman spectroscopy and DFT.

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