Controlling the Helicity and Handedness of Polyaromatics with Isobenzofuranophane

A Abhijeet R. Agrawal (Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel) I Israa Shioukhi (Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel) Y Yinon Deree (Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel) B Benny Bogoslavsky (Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel) O Ori Shalev (The Metabolic Profiling Unit The Core Research Facility The Faculty of Medicine The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel) R Roy Hoffman (Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel) O Ori Gidron (Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel)

Abstract

Abstract The extent of helicity in nonplanar polyaromatic materials affects their electronic, optical and chiroptical properties. However, controlling helicity in different systems typically requires different multistep synthetic approaches for each target compound, often with significant complexity, thereby limiting its applicability. Here, we introduce a helical synthon, isobenzofuranophane, with either a short or long tether, which enables late‐stage helicity induction and control in aromatic frameworks. We demonstrate the applicability of this synthon by reacting it with a [5]helicene aryne precursor, where both the handedness and helicene pitch are remotely‐controlled by the tether length, directly affecting the (chiro)optical properties of the helicene. The X‐ray structures support these findings with up to 35° torsion for a single benzene ring, demonstrating the potential of isobenzofuranophane to induce significant curvature to polyaromatic molecules.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 33
Published August 11, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

A

Abhijeet R. Agrawal

Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel

I

Israa Shioukhi

Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel

Y

Yinon Deree

Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel

B

Benny Bogoslavsky

Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel

O

Ori Shalev

The Metabolic Profiling Unit The Core Research Facility The Faculty of Medicine The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel

R

Roy Hoffman

Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel

O

Ori Gidron

Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Edmond J. Safra Campus Jerusalem 9190401 Israel