Synthesis of Nonaphenylenes and Dodecaphenylenes Using Electron-Transfer Oxidation of Lipshutz Cuprates and Formation of Nanostructural Materials from Hexadodecyloxynonaphenylene

Nonaphenylenes and dodecaphenylenes have been synthesized by using electron-transfer oxidation of Lipshutz cuprates with duroquinone. Oxidation of the Lipshutz cuprate derived from 4,4′′-dibromo-o-terphenyl 3a in THF produced nonaphenylene 1a in 46% yield, whereas the similar oxidation of the Lipshutz cuprates derived from 4,4′′-diiodo-4′,5′-dialkyl-o-terphenyls 3b−d in ether afforded the corresponding nonaphenylenes 1b−d and dodecaphenylenes 2b−d in moderate total yields. In the case of 4,4′′-diiodo-4′,5′-didodecyloxy-o-terphenyl 3e as the starting material, oxidation of the corresponding Lipshutz cuprate in ether or THF only led to the formation of nonaphenylene 1e. Both nonaphenylenes 1a−e and dodecaphenylenes 2b−d are unreactive to light, atmospheric oxygen, and prolonged heating. These oligophenylenes showed strong UV absorption and fluorescent emission and exhibited some redox properties on CV analysis. Moreover, hexadodecyloxynonaphenylene 1e exhibits different nanostructures on the surface and in ...