Cyclodehydrogenation of di- and tetra(benzimidazol-2-yl)benzenes to give model heteroaromatic discotic systems

Di-and tetra(benzimidazol-2-yl)benzenes upon oxidation undergo cyclodehydrogenation with formation of N–N bonds to form planarized polycyclic compounds which are models for the cores of heteroatom-containing discotic materials, and which can be readily reduced back to the original compounds, thus demonstrating a molecular redox switch.