Hexaaryl[3]radialenes

Abstract Reactions of diarylmethyl anions whose conjugate acids are more acidic than diphenylmethane with tetrachlorocyclopropene are found to afford hexaaryl-[3]radialenes in modest to good yields, thus leading to the first synthesis of hexaphenyl[3]radialene itself too; X-ray crystalographic analysis of hexakis( p -cyanophenyl)[3]radialene reveals a double three-bladed conformation.