Substituted meta[n]Cycloparaphenylenes: Synthesis, Photophysical Properties and Host–guest Chemistry

Abstract Breaking the centrosymmetry of [ n ]cycloparaphenylenes ([ n ]CPPs) by one meta connection, leads to bright emission in the typically non‐fluorescent smaller derivatives, conserving their size dependent emissive properties. Using the building block strategy for [ n ]CPPs, different nitrile substituted meta [ n ]CPPs ( n =6, 8, 10) have been prepared. The nitrile substituent offers a convenient handle for functional group conversions (e.g., carboxylic acid, amide, aldehyde, as well as 1 H ‐tetrazole). Besides the synthetic work, the photophysical properties of these novel m [ n ]CPP derivatives have been characterized. Additionally, the host–guest ability of cyano‐ m [10]CPP has been explored by studying its complexation with fullerene C 60 . These insights open new applications of meta [ n ]CPPs as fluorophore in synthetic organic chemistry, material sciences as well as biomedical research.