Explorations of the solubilizing effectiveness of CH 3 OCH 2 CH 2 O substituents in the photocyclizations of some 1,2-diarylethylenes to [ n ]phenacenes

We have previously published many photocyclizations of 1,2-diarylethylenes to produce zig-zag aromatic ring systems with n = 5, 7, and 11 fused benzene rings. We invented the name [n]phenacenes for these compounds. To increase their solubilities we attached either various alkyl or phenyl substituents. We present here our recent explorations of the effectiveness of CH3OCH2CH2O substituents as solubilizing groups in three examples of diarylethylene photocyclizations that produced one [5]phenacene and two [7]phenacene systems.