Globally aromatic odd-electron π-magnetic macrocycle

Abstract

Molecular π-magnets based on single organic molecules have attracted increasing attention for their potential applications in optoelectronics and spintronics. Global aromaticity in conjugated macrocyclic polyradicaloids is still an open question that has only been tackled in molecules with an even number of electrons. Here, we report the on-surface synthesis of a cyclopenta-ring-fused oligo(m-phenylene) macrocycle, 9MC, with an odd number of electrons. The generated polyradicaloid undergoes a surface-induced distortion to a D_3h symmetry with a fully delocalized doublet ground state. Interestingly, 9MC exhibits two aromatic annulene-within-an-annulene (AWA) ring currents in the inner and outer rings.