Nannulenes

Nannulenes are a class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons characterized by their annulene structure, meaning they contain a planar ring of conjugated double bonds. The prefix "nannu" is derived from the Latin word for "tiny," referring to their relatively small size compared to larger annulenes. They possess a specific number of carbon atoms, typically ranging from 12 to 30, arranged in a single fused ring system. The alternating single and double bonds within the ring are responsible for their aromaticity, which imparts a certain degree of stability.

Nannulenes exhibit unique electronic and optical properties due to their conjugated pi-electron systems. These properties make them of interest in various scientific fields, including materials science and organic electronics. Research into nannulenes explores their potential applications in areas such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), and as building blocks for more complex molecular architectures. Their synthesis can be challenging, often requiring multi-step organic reactions. The specific arrangement of carbon atoms and double bonds dictates the precise electronic and structural characteristics of each nannulene.