Syntheses of hexakis(4-functionalized-phenyl)benzenes and hexakis[4-(4'-functionalized- phenylethynyl)phenyl]benzenes directed to host molecules for guest-inclusion networks.

The syntheses of various types of hexakis(4-functionalized-phenyl)benzenes 1 and hexakis[4-(4'-functionalized-phenylethynyl)phenyl]benzenes 2 by the cobalt-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of diarylacetylenes and by the Sonogashira coupling reaction of 1e with arylacetylenes, respectively, are described. X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that host 1e or 2f forms a 2-D network by unique I...I or CH...O=C interactions, respectively.