Streamlined synthesis of meta - or para -substituted triphenylamine[3]arenes and their hierarchical assembly into polyhedral cages

An efficient synthesis of meta - or para -substituted triphenylamine[3]arenes is achieved using bromo- or ester-substituted triphenylamine monomers via a BF 3 ·Et 2 O-catalysed one-pot Friedel–Crafts cyclization with paraformaldehyde.