Triphenylene

Template:Chembox image cellTemplate:Chembox image cellTemplate:Chembox image cellTemplate:Chembox AllOtherNamesTemplate:Chembox headerbarTemplate:Chembox IndexlistTemplate:Chembox JmolTemplate:Chembox ChEMBLTemplate:Chembox ECHATemplate:Chembox E numberTemplate:Chembox IUPHAR ligandTemplate:Chembox UNIITemplate:Chembox CompToxTemplate:Chembox headerbarTemplate:Chembox Datapage checkTemplate:Chembox Footer

Triphenylene

Template:Longitem	Template:Unbulleted list
ChEBI	Template:Unbulleted list
ChemSpider	Template:Unbulleted list
DrugBank	Template:Unbulleted list
EC Number	Template:Unbulleted list
KEGG	Template:Unbulleted list
MeSH	C009590
Template:Longitem	Template:Unbulleted list
RTECS number	Template:Unbulleted list
Template:Longitem	Template:Chembox Elements/molecular formula
Molar mass	Template:Chem molar mass
Appearance	white
Density	1.308 g/cm3
Melting point	Template:Chembox CalcTemperatures
Boiling point	Template:Chembox CalcTemperatures
Template:Longitem	−156.6·10−6 cm3/mol

Triphenylene is an organic compound with the formula (C₆H₄)₃. It's a flat polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that has a highly symmetric and planar structure consists of four fused benzene rings. Triphenylene has delocalized 18-π-electron systems based on a planar structure, corresponding to the symmetry group D_3h. It is more resonance stable than its isomers chrysene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[c]phenanthrene, and tetracene, hence resists hydrogenation. It is a light yellow powder, insoluble in water.

Triphenylene serves as a fundamental building block in discotic liquid crystals, where its planar, disc-like structure facilitates the formation of columnar mesophases, enabling applications in organic electronics. It's also being used as the base of covalent and metal organic frameworks.

Discovery and First Synthesis

Triphenylene was first separated by German chemists H. Schmidt and Template:Ill in 1880 from the pyrotic product of the thermal decomposition of benzene vapor. Though triphenylene is previously referred to as chrysene, Schmidt and Schultz realized that it is an isomer of chrysene, and successfully identified and named it as triphenylene.

Later in 1907, Carl Mannich first synthesized triphenylene through a two-step reaction from cyclohexanone and confirmed its planar structure. Through predicted condensation of cyclohexanone following the pathway below, he obtained dodecahydrotriphenylene(C₁₈H₃₀).

File:Potential condensation pathways.png

Mannich's hypothesis of potential condensation pathways

Mannich then dehydrogenated dodecahydrotriphenylene into triphenylene with two methods: zinc dust distillation and copper-catalyzed dehydrogenation. He confirmed the product was identical to the pyrolysis product from benzene by reproducing Schmidt and Schultz's experiment and comparing the samples. Mannich also characterized triphenylene's properties, derivatives, and oxidation reactions, and confirmed it as a fully aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbon.

Mannich's synthesis of triphenylene

Mannich's synthesis of triphenylene

Preparation

Triphenylene can be isolated from coal tar. It can also be synthesized in various ways.

One method is trimerization of benzyne. This pathway first diazotizes and iodinates o-bromoaniline through HCl, NaNO₂, and KI to produce o-bromoiodobenzene with a yield of 72 - 83%. Then form o-bromophenyl lithium using Li and ether. Add benzene to the organolithium intermediate to get triphenylene with a yield of 53 - 59%. Impurities of biphenyl are then removed with steam distillation.

File:Triphenylene synthesis scheme 2.jpg

Synthesis of triphenylene through trimerization of benzyne

Another method involves trapping benzyne with a biphenyl derivative. This method started with removing the trimethylsilyl group from 2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl trifluoromethanesulfonate using cesium fluoride, generating benzyne. Benzyne then reacts with 2-bromobiphenyl in the presence of Pd(dba)₂ and tri(o-tolyl)phosphine as catalysts and produces triphenylene with a yield of 76%.

File:Triphenylene synthesis scheme 1.jpg

Synthesis of triphenylene via the palladium-catalyzed annulation of benzyne

Application

Discotic liquid crystal and organic electronics

Triphenylene and its derivatives have been widely used in discotic liquid crystal and organic electronics as the core moiety due to its robust discotic molecular architecture.

File:Stacking of Triphenylene molecule.png

Stacking of triphenylene derivatives creates conducting channels

Due to its planar structure and π-conjugated system, triphenylene has a rigid discotic structure. This enables it to self-assemble and form highly ordered, long, cylindrical columns. The columnar mesophases provide a direct pathway for charge carriers(electrons or holes) and avoid interruption from scattering and trapped effects in disordered materials. This leads to efficient charge transport along the stacking direction. Tripenylene derivatives, with flexible aliphatic side chains, can modulate intermolecular interactions. This maintains molecular mobility under a wide temperature range and avoids excessive crystallization, and corresponding bad processability and solubility. Triphenylene derivatives also can be synthesized through well-established routes like the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. Its functional groups can be introduced easily and used to adjust its properties.

Recent studies synthesized new polymer structures incorporating triphenylene units and found that these materials exhibit high photoluminescence and electroluminescence efficiencies. Their emission spectra are well-suited for blue light applications, demonstrating stability and promising performance for next-generation blue emitters.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs)

Due to its delocalized system, rigid structure, stability, and adjustable structures, triphenylene can be used in the synthesis of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs). Similar to the properties mentioned in DLC applications, triphenylene and its derivatives have high conductivity, and further affect the conductivity of MOFs and COFs. HATP-based 2D MOFs Ni₃(HITP)₂ single crystals can reach conductivities as high as 150 S/cm at 0K.

File:Chemical structure of a TP molecule.png

Chemical structure of a TP molecule

File:Synthesis of triphenylene derivatives hexaalkoxytriphenylenes(HAT).jpg

Synthesis of triphenylene derivatives hexaalkoxytriphenylenes(HAT)

The rigid planar structure and three-fold symmetry of triphenylene also make it suitable for honeycomb-like 2D layered materials. This enables supramolecular interlayer aggregation of TP-based MOFs and COFs and increases the stability and conductivity of the structure. It will also create uniform nanopores, which lead to high porosity and facilitate gas storage, molecular sieving, and ion exchange.

Multiple substitution sites of triphenylene bring multifunctionality to TP-base MOFs and COFs. Depending on the different functional groups, the physical and chemical properties of frameworks can be modified easily. In addition, due to the high chemical stability of triphenylene, it is adaptable to various synthesis methods like solvothermal synthesis, layer-by-layer assembly, microfluidic synthesis, interfacial synthesis, etc.

File:Formation scheme of TP-based 2D MOFs and TP-based 2D COFs.png

Formation scheme of TP-based 2D MOFs and TP-based 2D COFs

File:Synthesis of Ni3(HITP)2 thin films through ammonia diffusion.png

Synthesis of Ni₃(HITP)₂ thin films through ammonia diffusion

External links

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Structure Index