Continuous flow synthesis of a carbon-based molecular cage macrocycle via a three-fold homocoupling reaction.

The facile synthesis of the cage molecule (C110H56Br2) via a remarkable three-fold homo-coupling macrocyclization reaction using continuous flow methodology is reported. Synthesis via continuous flow chemistry improves the residence time, safety, and environmental profile of this synthetically challenging reaction. Further, the new cage possesses halogen atoms at its apex that serve to expand the potential reaction space of these intrinsically porous, all carbon-carbon bonded molecular cage molecules.