Construction of Three-dimensional Framework with 1,8-Anthrylene and Butadiynylene Building Units: Synthesis and Properties of Cyclic Tetramers

Abstract As a new type of π-conjugated macrocycles, 1,8-anthrylene–butadiynylene cyclic tetramers were synthesized by metal-catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions. The fluorescence spectrum of the nonsubstituted derivative indicated partial formation of an excimer in the excited state. The macrocyclic structure undergoes rapid interconversion between two enantiomeric diamond prism structures. These spectroscopic and structural features are compared with those of ethynylene analogues.