Linear acenes are polycyclic aromatic molecules that have applications as organic materials for field-effect transistors 1–7 and light emitting diodes (LEDs). 8 These compounds are difficult to work with due to their insolubility and instability, both of which become worse with increasing length. 9 We propose a supramolecular strategy to stabilize linear acenes by insulating the reactive central aromatic rings inside cyclodextrin macrocycles. This approach should be ...