Discovery of an Interlocked and Interwoven Molecular Topology in Nanocarbons via Dynamic C–C Bond Formation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Topologically complex carbon nanostructures are an exciting but largely unexplored class of materials due to their challenging synthesis. Previous methods are low yielding because they rely on irreversible C sp 2 –C sp 2 bond formation, which necessitates complex templating strategies to enforce entanglement. Here, reversible zirconocene coupling of alkynes is developed as a new method to access complex molecular topologies, where dynamic C–C bond formation facilitates entanglement under thermodynamic control, allowing the use of simple precursors without the need for preassembly. This strategy enables the scalable, high-yield synthesis of three topologically distinct nanocarbons, including the serendipitous discovery of a structure containing a new topological motif that was not previously identified or realized synthetically. This motif, consisting of an unusual combination of interlocking and interweaving, was recognized to be generalizable to a new topological class of molecules, introduced here as perplexanes.

Source: Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c04268

Authors: Harrison M. Bergman, Angela T. Fan, Christopher G. Jones, August J. Rothenberger, Kunal K. Jha, Rex C. Handford, Hosea M. Nelson, Yi Liu, T. Don Tilley

Institutions: University of California, Berkeley, California Institute of Technology, University of California, Los Angeles, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Molecular Foundry

Language: English

Topic: Synthesis and Properties of Aromatic Compounds

Subfield: Organic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, Office of Science, Division of Chemistry, Basic Energy Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

OpenAlex ID: W4410636323