The smallest spherical carbon nanocage so far, [2.2.2]carbon nanocage,h as been synthesized by the cationic rhodium(I)/H 8 -binap complex-catalyzed regioselective intermolecular cyclotrimerization of ac is-1-ethynyl-4-arylcyclohexadiene derivative followed by the triple Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings with 1,3,5-triborylbenzene and reductive aromatization. This cage molecule is highly strained, and its ring strain is between those of [6] and [5]cycloparaphenylenes.A significant red-shift of an emission maximum was observed, compared with that of known[ 4.4.4]carbon nanocage.T he sequential cyclotrimerizations of ac is-1,4-diethynylcyclohexadiene derivative with the same rhodium(I) catalyst followed by reductive aromatization failed to afford[ 1.1.1]carbon nanocage;i nstead, a b-graph-shaped cage molecule was generated. Figure 3. Energy diagrams of the frontier MOs of [4.4.4] and [2.2.2]carbonn anocages E (ref. [9b]) and 1 (left and middle, respectively). Two-way arrows represent HOMO-LUMO gaps. H = HOMO, L = LUMO. Pictorial representations of the frontier MOs of 1 (right). Scheme 2. Attempted synthesis of [1.1.1]carbon nanocage, which affords b-graph-shaped cage 12.T BAF = tetrabutylammonium fluoride.