Carbon Networks Based on Dehydrobenzoannulenes: Synthesis of Graphdiyne Substructures

Nearly 22 Å in diameter, bismacrocycle 2 is the largest known substructure of any network. This molecule and macrocycle 1 represent the first examples of subunits of graphdiyne, the most stable diacetylenic carbon allotrope comprising sp and sp2 hybridized carbons. Spectroscopic evidence suggests that the dehydro[18]annulene core of 1 and 2 retains its diatropic character.