Synthesis and Physical Properties of Polyfluorinated Cycloparaphenylenes

Fluorinated [6]- and [9] cycloparaphenylene (CPP) derivatives, 8F-[6]CPP and 12F-[9]CPP, were synthesized based on the previous synthesis of the parent CPPs. While the reductive aromatization conditions used in the final step of the synthesis of the parent CPPs did not work for the fluorinated compounds, the use of PBr3 and SnCl2 in acetonitrile successfully accomplished the desired transformation. The structures of F-CPPs were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Photo- and electrochemical analyses and host-guest chemistry revealed the effects of the introduction of fluorine atoms.