Innenrücktitelbild: Electronic Control of the Scholl Reaction: Selective Synthesis of Spiro vs Helical Nanographenes (Angew. Chem. 7/2023)

Different electronic effects in the starting anthracene-containing polyphenylene substrate (bottom) afford two different nanographenes under Scholl reaction conditions, namely spironanographenes (R=H) on left and a helically arranged molecular nanographene having orthogonal aromatic moieties linked by an octafluoroanthracene core (R=F) right. The stabilities of intermediate trityl cations concomitant gain aromaticity decide fate reaction, as explained Israel Fernández, Nazario Martín, co-workers their Research Article (e202215655).