Expedient synthesis of C3-symmetric hexasubstituted benzenes via Nicholas reaction/[2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition. new platforms for molecular recognition.

An expedient methodology to synthesize macrocyclic compounds in one step based on the Nicholas reaction is disclosed. The key step features two intermolecular reactions followed by an intramolecular reaction from the starting dicobalt hexacarbonyl-propargylic complex. The macrocycles obtained were modified through [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition, generating two new C3-symmetric hexasubstituted benzene structures suitable for molecular recognition purposes.