Synthesis and Characterization of a Non-Planar Cyclophenylene on Au(111).

We report the surface-assisted synthesis of a non-planar cyclophenylene derivative containing four meta- and two para- connected phenylene moieties on Au(111), via hierarchical Ullmann coupling of a 1,10-dibrominated angular [3] phenylene and subsequent C-C bond cleavage at the four-membered rings. Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS) were used for the characterization of its chemical structure and electronic properties. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations support the experimental observations.