The Peropyrene Route to Large Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. A Topological Approach

A topographical approach to the synthesis of large PAHs of the peropyrene series by the Clar reaction, the reductive coupling of 1-phenalenone type aromatic ketones, is outlined. Attention is drawn to the active peri positions of the PAKs radical anions involved in the coupling. The Clar reactions of naphthanthrone and benzanthrone, leading to a wealth of nonacyclic, decacyclic, undecacylic and dodecacyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are analysed in the light of the theoretical considerations.