Molten Metal Synthesis\nof Nanographenes

This manuscript describes a simple and effective method\nto cyclodehydrogenate\narenes using liquid alkali metals. Direct reaction between molten\npotassium and arenes forms 6-membered rings and zigzag edged structures\nwithin polyarenes. The approach is extended to integration of pyridinic\nnitrogen and 5-membered rings to arene structures and synthesis of\nlarger, open-shell nanographenes.