Tetra‐<i>tert</i>‐butyltetraoxa[8]circulene and Its Unusual Aggregation Behaviour

Abstract

Abstract We describe the first example of the synthesis of a tetraoxa[8]circulene with only four substituents by means of BF 3 · OEt 2 mediated tetramerisation of tert ‐butyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone. Two of the four regioisomers of tetra‐ tert ‐butyltetraoxa[8]circulene have been isolated and characterised by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. It was found that the tetra‐ tert ‐butyltetraoxa[8]circulenes aggregate in solution through a cooperative polymerisation mechanism despite functionalisation with bulky tert ‐butyl substituents.