Oligophenylenes as building blocks for well-defined graphite subunits Original Research Article

Here we present a new approach towards extremely large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which uses smooth ambient-temperature cyclodehydrogenation conditions of oligophenylenes in contrast to conventional pyrolytic fusion methods. Vapor-deposition of these structurally well-defined, large arenes leads to supramolecular, space filling arrangements as revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy analysis. The three-dimensional ordering of PAH micro-crystals is seen by electron diffraction experiments.