Synthesis and Properties of a Cyclohexa‐2,7‐Anthrylene Ethynylene Derivative

The synthesis of a cyclohexa-2,7-(4,5-diaryl)anthrylene ethynylene 1 was achieved for the first time by using 1,8-diaryl-3,6-diborylanthracene and 1,8-diaryl-3,6-diiodoanthracene as key synthetic intermediates. Macrocycle 1 possesses a planar conformation of approximately D6h symmetry, because of the triple bond linker between the anthracene units at the 2,7-positions. It was confirmed that macrocycle 1, bearing bulky substituents at the outer peripheral positions, behaves as a monomeric form in solution without π-stacking self-association. Macrocycle 1 has an inner cavity size that allows specific inclusion of [9]cycloparaphenylene ([9]CPP), but not [8]CPP or [10]CPP, through aromatic edge-to-face CH-π interaction.