In recent years, we have used the photocyclizations of diarylethylenes to synthesize a number of [n] phenacenes in the hope that they might be useful as the bridging groups for electron transfer processes in donor–bridge–acceptor molecules. Because [n] phenacenes with n> 5 are very insoluble, their synthesis and characterization has required the attachment of solubilizing substituents such as tert-butyl. The studies of Pascal and co- ...
