Tris-Azo Triangular Paraphenylenes: Synthesis and Reversible Interconversion into Radial π-Conjugated Macrocycles

J Am Chem Soc. 2024 Apr 17;146(15):10246-10250. doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c00657. Epub 2024 Apr 3.

Abstract

We report the synthesis of cycloparaphenylene derivatives featuring tris-azo groups. The smaller derivative, [3]cycloazobenzene, adopts a triangular all-cis form and exhibits thermally and photochemically stable characteristics due to significant ring strain as well as symmetric Kagome-patterned crystal packing. In contrast, the as-synthesized [3]cycloazobenzene with three biphenylene bridges adopts a triangular all-cis form, which undergoes photoinduced isomerization, leading to a photostationary state. Interestingly, the addition of an excess of acid selectively leads to the formation of an all-trans form. DFT calculations reveal that the interconversion from a triangular to a circular shape correlates with an increase in HOMO and a decrease in LUMO, characteristics intrinsic to radial π-conjugated systems.