Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have received tremendous attention because they are recognized as promising building blocks for nanoelectronic devices. Organic synthesis offers a promising route to narrow, atomically precise graphenes. Our group has developed organic synthetic protocols for oligo (ortho-phenylenes), which are potential precursors to GNRs. However, the planarization is a major challenge due to rearrangements in the Scholl reaction, even for very short ribbon structures. Our efforts to control the Scholl reaction for the synthesis of graphene nanoribbons with 4, 6 or 10 Clar sextets will be discussed. These methods should be applicable to the synthesis of graphene nanostructures in general. 

Toward the narrowest graphene nanoribbons (GNRs): A bottom-up approach from oligo(ortho-phenylenes)

245th National Meeting (2013)

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