Persulfurated p-phenylene sulfide (PPS) molecular asterisks (6-9) from "generations" 1 to 4 were efficiently prepared. They represent a new class of electron-accepting PPS star-shaped nanomolecules. Spectroelectrochemistry, cyclic voltammetry and UV-visible studies were performed for the asterisks and for functionalized p-phenylene sulfide oligomers (1-4). These data confirmed for the first time that an electronic delocalization through the whole asterisk molecule exists in the radical anionic or dianionic forms, in spite of divalent sulfur bridges between phenyl groups. They could be seen as globular spheres with a three-dimensional electronic network and delocalization. Electrochemical studies indicated that sulfur substituents strongly stabilize the reduced form of the asterisk relative to coronene itself, and the ease of reduction depends on the PPS chain length.
"Megastars" with aromatic central cores, some of which fluoresce, were synthesized by the efficient connection of the side arms to the core by using the MacNicol reaction. Depending on the length of the side arm precursor, second-, third- (depicted), or fourth-generation molecular asterisks were obtained; a twelve-armed molecular asterisk was prepared when the benzene core was replaced by a coronene one.
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