The bottom-up synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been eagerly anticipated by a wide range of scientists. Due to the lack of suitable synthetic methodology, however, the current production of CNTs invariably yields mixtures of tubes having inhomogeneous diameters and chiralities. Our strategy is based on traditional organic synthesis to build rationally designed nanotube end-caps, which can then be grown into CNTs. Recently, we have succeeded in synthesizing pentabenzocorannulene, a potential precursor to the C40H10 end-cap of [5,5]CNTs. Tetrabenzocorannulene has been synthesized by a Pd-catalyzed ring closure reaction. From there, formylation and a one-pot sequence of Peterson olefination, followed by a Diels�Alder reaction with nitroethylene, have given pentabenzocorannulene in just two more steps. This method is also applicable to 2-step benzannulation of corannulene to yield monobenzocorannulene. We will also report another successful synthesis of pentabenzocorannulene. Synthesis of the C40H10 end-cap from pentabenzocorannulene is under investigation.

Synthesis of pentabenzocorannulene: Toward a C<sub>40</sub>H<sub>10</sub> carbon nanotube end-cap

247th National Meeting (2014)

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Synthesis of pentabenzocorannulene: Toward a C40H10 carbon nanotube end-cap

Synthesis of pentabenzocorannulene: Toward a C₄₀H₁₀ carbon nanotube end-cap