In this article we show synthetic pathways to [6.8](n)cyclacenes demonstrated by the de novo synthesis of [6.8](3)cyclacene as the first purely hydrocarbon cyclacene and of precursors for [6.8](4)cyclacene. The design of the de novo synthesis by exploring alternative pathways is discussed and various precursors are shown. Crucial to the synthesis of [6.8](3)cyclacene were two cyclization steps....
