Graphenylene, a unique two-dimensional carbon network with nondelocalized cyclohexatriene units

Over many years chemists have established the general principle that two-dimensional chemical structures constructed with pure sp2-carbon atoms will definitely form an aromatic system with delocalized electron density. However, based on a recently proposed chemical structure, graphenylene, this rule...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Song, Q., Wang, B., Deng, K., Feng, X., Wagner, M., Gale, Julian, Mullen, K., Zhi, L.
Format: Journal Article
Published: RSC Publishing 2013
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42270
Description
Summary:Over many years chemists have established the general principle that two-dimensional chemical structures constructed with pure sp2-carbon atoms will definitely form an aromatic system with delocalized electron density. However, based on a recently proposed chemical structure, graphenylene, this rule may finally be broken. Herein, we predict the properties of a new two-dimensional sp2- carbon network known as graphenylene, which is the first example of a non-delocalized sp2-carbon structure composed of cyclohexatriene units with two quite distinct C–C bonds within a C6 ring. In addition, theoretical calculations demonstrate that graphenylene has periodic pores of 3.2 Å in diameter and is a semiconductor with a narrow direct band gap, making it promising for various applications, such as electronic devices and efficient hydrogen separation. This study provides a new perspective on carbon allotropes, leading to a better understanding of [N]phenylene based organic frameworks, as well as clarifying the relationship between benzene and cyclohexatriene.