Fluorescent hexaaryl- and hexa-heteroaryl[3]radialenes: Synthesis, structures, and properties

The syntheses of three new [3]radialenes – hexakis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)-, hexakis(3-cyanophenyl)-, and hexakis(3,4-dicyanophenyl)[3]radialene (1–3) – are reported. Compound 3 is obtained in five steps with an excellent yield of 76% in the key step. Compared to that, the respective steps of the syntheses of 1 and 2 result in lower yields. All compounds adopt a double bladed propeller conformation in solution. Compound 3 is considerably more electron deficient than previously reported hexaaryl[3]radialenes, with reduction potentials of −0.06 and −0.45 V in CH(2)Cl(2). The compounds mostly display red fluorescence with large Stokes shifts.