Synthesis of a [20]phenacene dodeca-ester by controlled condensation of seven naphthalene-based building blocks

Abstract

Complementary protecting techniques for the Perkin reaction between arylacetic acids and arylglyoxylic acids efficiently allowed the multistep condensation of seven naphthalene fragments, linked by maleate bridges. Photocyclisation of this heptameric flexible precursor has led to a [20]phenacene dodeca-ester, the longest known phenacene to date.