In recent years, various synthetic chemical approaches
have been investigated using polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs)
as “nanographene with precise molecular structure and high purity.”
If it becomes possible to construct structurally controlled 3D
assemblies and spaces from this 2D nano-sized graphene, new
materials with unique structural properties can be created. A
research group at Ehime University has been studying the synthesis
and physical properties of hexapyrrolohexaazacoronene (HPHAC), a
nitrogen-containing PAH, using pyrroles. HPHACs, which are composed
of electron-rich pyrroles, are easily oxidized and their
two-electron oxidized forms exhibit global aromaticity. However,
the only reported studies on HPHACs have been on the synthesis of
monomers, including analogs, and the elucidation of their
structure-property relationships. No studies have been conducted on
the synthesis of dimers toward structurally controlled 3D
structures.
