Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of 10-Mesitylanthracene-1,8-diyl Oligomers

Oligomers consisting of 10-mesitylanthracene-1,8-diyl units were synthesized by Ni-mediated coupling of the corresponding dibromide as new oligoarene compounds. The structures and properties of these oligomers were investigated by NMR and electronic spectroscopy. Conformational analyses with the aid of DFT calculations revealed that each biaryl axis adopted a nearly perpendicular conformation, and the trimers and tetramers existed as a mixture of diastereomeric conformers.