Annelated, chiral π-conjugated systems:: Tetraphenylenes and helical β-oligothiophenes

Compounds with highly annelated, chiral pi.-systems, such as tetraphenylenes and [n]helicenes, are known to possess strong chiral properties and high configurational stability, which are prerequisites for many chiral materials. This account describes the unfolding story about our research on the synthesis and X-ray crystallographic characterization of functionalized nonracemic tetraphenylenes and helical beta-oligothiophenes, as well as related [n]helicene derivatives.