From significant primary properties through to unparalleled complexity-generating synthetic transformations, the fundamental oligo-alkene family known as the dendralenes is coming of age. For many years, the dendralenes were thought to be too unstable to be synthetically useful. We demonstrated that the perception was false: we were the first to prepare the dendralenes and we did so using standard laboratory equipment. We recorded their spectroscopic, physical and chemical properties and discovered alternation in their behaviour � the first time such a property has been witnessed in a family of fundamental structures since the annulenes. We have also demonstrated that dendralenes have the unique capacity to undergo diene-transmissive cycloadditions, spectacular processes that result in many new bonds being forged in a single operation. This presentation will showcase new applications of dendralenes and related structures in efficient chemical syntheses.

Putting the fun back into fundamental hydrocarbons

244th National Meeting (2012)

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