Two-Step Synthesis of Boron-Fused Double Helicenes

Novel boron-fused double [5]helicenes were synthesized from hexabromobenzene in two steps via Hart reaction and demethylative cyclization. The parent helicene shows excellent ambipolar conductivity, which can be explained by unique 3D pi-stacking with a brickwork arrangement. Moreover, the introduction of four tert-butyl groups suppresses racemization, enabling optical resolution. The enantiomerically pure helicene shows deep blue fluorescence with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates of (0.15, 0.08) and circularly polarized luminescence activity.