12b,24b‐Diborahexabenzo[<i>a</i>,<i>c</i>,<i>fg</i>,<i>l</i>,<i>n</i>,<i>qr</i>]pentacene: A Low‐LUMO Boron‐Doped Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon

Abstract

Abstract Herein we devise and execute a new synthesis of a pristine boron‐doped nanographene. Our target boron‐doped nanographene was designed based on DFT calculations to possess a low LUMO energy level and a narrow band gap derived from its precise geometry and B‐doping arrangement. Our synthesis of this target, a doubly B‐doped hexabenzopentacene ( B 2 ‐HBP ), employs six net C−H borylations of an alkene, comprising consecutive hydroboration/electrophilic borylation/dehydrogenation and BBr 3 /AlCl 3 /2,6‐dichloropyridine‐mediated C−H borylation steps. As predicted by our calculations, B 2 ‐HBP absorbs strongly in the visible region and emits in the NIR up to 1150 nm in o‐dichlorobenzene solutions. Furthermore, B 2 ‐HBP possesses a very low LUMO level, showing two reversible reductions at −1.00 V and −1.17 V vs. Fc + /Fc. Our methodology is surprisingly selective despite its implementation of unfunctionalized precursors and offers a new approach to the synthesis of pristine B‐doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons .