Recent Progress in Chemistry of Multiple Helicenes

• Published in: Chemistry, an Asian journal Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 884 - 894
• Main Authors: Li, Changqing, Yang, Yong, Miao, Qian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 16-04-2018
• Subjects: arenes; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; helical structures; Helicity; organic semiconductors; polycycles; Stereochemistry; stereochemistry; organic semiconductors; arenes; helical structures; polycycles
• ISSN: 1861-4728; 1861-471X
• DOI: 10.1002/asia.201800073

The last decade has witnessed multiple helicenes arising as an interesting class of nonplanar polycyclic aromatics of inherent multihelicity. These molecules present esthetic structures and interesting properties not available to helicenes of single helicity. Herein an overview of multiple helicenes with respect to structures, stereochemical dynamics, synthesis, and applications is provided. Recently reported multiple helicenes are surveyed with an emphasis on molecular structures and stereochemistry of multiple carbohelicenes. After this survey, the synthesis of multiple helicenes through the Scholl reaction is discussed and recent applications of multiple helicenes in organic electronics are summarized. On the basis of these discussions, conclusions are reached on the current status of multiple helicenes and an outlook for this field is provided.
Future for twists and turns: This review provides an overview of recent progress in multiple helicenes, which are an interesting class of nonplanar polycyclic aromatics with inherent multihelicity. Structures, stereochemical dynamics, synthesis through the Scholl reaction, and applications in organic electronics are discussed (see figure).