Projet de thèse consiste de plusieurs parties:-synthèse de nanographène chirale, caractérisation de ses propriétés photo-physiques (publication en JACS acceptée);-synthèse des astérisques moléculaires, qui combinent les propriétés luminescences du noyau benzène persulfuré et des solubilité aqueuse et biocompatibilité des dendrons avec des branches de PEG; une application de ces dendrons pour couvrir les nanoparticules de silice ;-synthèse des astérisques moléculaires avec noyau de benzène persulfuré et branches des heterocycles, pour explorer leurs auto-assemblage et propriétés chelatantes vers métaux. / The synthesis of molecular asterisks as "smart sensors" with a persulfurated benzene core and various ligands was explored. Asterisks with heteroaromatic ligands were synthesized for exploring their metal ions complexing ability. PEG dendrons were tested for increasing the water solubility of the asterisks, and to verify if PEG asterisks could encapsulate some hydrophobic molecules. The PEG dendrons were synthesized for making smart asterisks sensors, and for another purpose: the coating of silica nanoparticles to prevent their fast degradation in water. Unfortunately, this protection from degradation was ineffective, but we could make PEG asterisks to encapsulate molecules (Nile Red) toward new drug nanocarriers.The synthesis of chiral nanographenes embedding [5]- or [7]helicenes is reported. Usually [5]helicenes are configurationally labile, while higher helicene homologs are stable. We synthesized a stable chiral nanographene with six embedded [5]helicene units (a [5]helicene trimer). We found a strong distortion of benzene rings, especially in the triphenylene core. The enantiomers were separated and the chiroptical properties were measured.The synthesis of [7]helicene trimer was also performed with a great enantio- and diastereoselectivity. When a Ni(0)- mediated cyclotrimerization is achieved with an enantiopure [7]helicene substrate, only one enantiomer of the trimer is obtained, while keeping intact the configuration of the substrate. On a racemic substrate, three diastereomers were obtained. One of them demonstrated the highest values of a benzene ring distortion reported to date (mean puckering angle and twisting angle).

Nonbenzenoid carbocyclic rings are postulated to serve as important structural elements toward tuning the chemical and electronic properties of extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, or namely nanographenes), necessitating a rational and atomically precise synthetic approach toward their fabrication. Here, using a combined bottom-up in-solution and on-surface synthetic approach, we report the synthesis of nonbenzenoid open-shell nanographenes containing two pairs of embedded pentagonal and heptagonal rings. Extensive characterization of the resultant nanographene in solution shows a low optical gap, and an open-shell singlet ground state with a low singlet–triplet gap. Employing ultra-high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, we conduct atomic-scale structural and electronic studies on a cyclopenta-fused derivative on a Au(111) surface. The resultant five to seven rings embedded nanographene displays an extremely narrow energy gap of 0.27 eV and exhibits a pronounced open-shell biradical character close to 1 (y0 = 0.92). Our experimental results are supported by mean-field and multiconfigurational quantum chemical calculations. Access to large nanographenes with a combination of nonbenzenoid topologies and open-shell character should have wide implications in harnessing new functionalities toward the realization of future organic electronic and spintronic devices.

Nanographenes, or extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, have been attracting renewed and more widespread attention since the first experimental demonstration of graphene in 2004. However, the atomically precise fabrication of nanographenes has thus far been achieved only through synthetic organic chemistry. The precise synthesis of quasi-zero-dimensional nanographenes, i.e. graphene molecules, has witnessed rapid developments over the past few years, and these developments can be summarized in four categories: (1) non-conventional methods, (2) structures incorporating seven- or eight-membered rings, (3) selective heteroatom doping, and (4) direct edge functionalization. On the other hand, one-dimensional extension of the graphene molecules leads to the formation of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with high aspect ratios. The synthesis of structurally well-defined GNRs has been achieved by extending nanographene synthesis to longitudinally extended polymeric systems. Access to GNRs thus becomes possible through the solution-mediated or surface-assisted cyclodehydrogenation, or ‘‘graphitization,’’ of tailor-made polyphenylene precursors. In this review, we describe recent progress in the ‘‘bottom-up’’ chemical syntheses of structurally well-defined nanographenes, namely graphene molecules and GNRs.

The search for the ideal, environmentally friendly and preferably cheap solvent has been a persistent topic in general chemistry. Hence, the effort in the development of “green” solvents and processes skyrocketed in the recent past. However, a replacement of solvents does not deal with the problem at hand – it is just a small fix, not a big innovation. Taking this into consideration, what is the big innovation needed in chemistry? If one considers solvents as the problem, then the logical step is to simply get rid of them altogether. One approach to conduct reactions in the absence of solvents is mechanochemistry. Initiated and/or sustained by mechanical energy, mechanochemical reactions offer a sustainable alternative to many wet-chemical methods. Innovative uses thereof have made their way into the fields of pharmaceuticals, material synthesis and, foremost, organic chemistry, where the vast potential of this rediscovered field has been demonstrated. In this context, I have dedicated this thesis to establish mechanochemical protocols for the fields of polymers and nanographenes. Both of those topics are, at the moment, dominated by solution-based synthesis, although the compounds produced are hardly soluble.

In memory of François Diederich. / Nanographenes (NGs) with open-shell character have gained intense attention due to their potential applications in future organic nanoelectronics and spintronics. Among them, NGs bearing a pair of parallel zigzag edges, such as acenes and periacenes (PAs) bestow unique (opto)electronic and magnetic properties owing to their localized non-bonding π-state. However, their reactive zigzag edges impart intrinsic instability, leading to the challenging synthesis. The recent development of synthetic strategies provided access to several π-extended PAs, which were considered unrealistic for decades. Notably, their laterally π-extended structures of zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbons was realised via on-surface synthesis. However, synthesis of π-extended PAs in solution is still in its infancy, more intensive scientific efforts are needed to surpass the existing challenges regarding stability and solubility. This Review provides an overview of recent progress in the synthesis and characterization of PAs through a bottom-up synthetic strategy, including on-surface and solution-phase chemistry. In addition, views on existing challenges and the future prospects are also provided.

The precision synthesis of helical bilayer nanographenes (NGs) with new topology is of substantial interest because of their exotic physicochemical properties. However, helical bilayer NGs bearing non-hexagonal rings remain synthetically challenging. Here we present the efficient synthesis of the first helical bilayer nonbenzenoid nanographene (HBNG1) from a tailor-made azulene-embedded precursor, which contains a novel [10]helicene backbone with two embedded heptagons. Single-crystal X-ray analysis reveals its highly twisted bilayer geometry with a record small interlayer distance of 3.2 Å among the reported helical bilayer NGs. Notably, the close interlayer distance between the two layers offers intramolecular through-space conjugation as revealed by in situ spectroelectrochemistry studies together with DFT simulations. Furthermore, the chiroptical properties of the P/M enantiomers of HBNG1 are also evaluated by circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence.

Herein, we demonstrate a novel one-pot synthetic method towards a series of boron-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (B-PAHs, 1 a–1 o), including hitherto unknown B-doped zethrene derivatives, from ortho-aryl substituted diarylalkynes with high atom efficiency and broad substrate scopes. A reaction mechanism is proposed based on the experimental investigation together with the theoretical calculations, which involves a unique 1,4-boron migration process. The resultant benchtop-stable B-PAHs are thoroughly investigated by X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, UV/Vis absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopies. The blue and green organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices based on 1 f and 1 k are further fabricated, demonstrating the promising application potential of B-PAHs in organic optoelectronics.