Efficient Synthesis of Nanoscale Macrocyclic Hydrocarbons

In unusually high yields of 75 and 70% respectively, the macrocycles with six (1) and twelve arene units have been efficiently synthesized by cyclization of α-iodo-ω-ethynylphenyl-acetylene oligomers. The success is probably due to the preassembly of these difunctional building blocks. Molecular models indicate an inner diameter of 8.4 Å for 1 and 22 Å (!) for the larger macrocycle.