π‐Radical Cascade to a Chiral Saddle‐Shaped Peropyrene

Abstract

Reactions of open‐shell molecular graphene fragments are typically thought of as undesired decomposition processes because they lead to the loss of desired features like π‐magnetism. Oxidative dimerization of phenalenyl to peropyrene shows, however, that these transformations hold promise as a synthetic tool for making complex structures via formation of multiple bonds and rings in a single step. Here, we explore the feasibility of using this “undesired” reaction of phenalenyl to build up strain and provide access to non‐planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. To this end, we designed and synthesized a biradical system with two phenalenyl units linked via a biphenylene backbone. The design facilitates an intramolecular cascade reaction to a helically twisted saddle‐shaped product, where the key transformations—ring‐closure and ring‐fusion—occur within one reaction. The negative curvature of the final peropyrene product, induced by the formed eight‐membered ring, was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis and the helical twist was validated via resolution of the product’s enantiomers that display circularly polarized luminescence and high configurational stability.