Tricyclobutabenzene is anaromatic hydrocarbon consisting of abenzene core with threecyclobutane rings fused onto it. This compound and related compounds are studied in the laboratory because they often display unusualconformations and because of their unusual reactivity. Tricyclobutabenzenes areisomers ofradialenes and form anequilibrium with them.
The parent tricyclobutabenzene (C12H12) was firstsynthesised in 1979[1] by the following sequence:[2][3] This compound is stable up to 250 °C (482 °F).
A polyoxygenated tricyclobutabenzene with an extraordinarybond length of 160pm for the bond connecting two carbonyl groups[1] by the following sequence:[4]
An ordinary bond of this type is only 148 pm and for comparison the C-C bond inisatin is 154 pm long. On the other hand, no change is recorded in the aromatic bond length alternation.
^Dodecamethoxy- and Hexaoxotricyclobutabenzene: Synthesis and Characterization Toshiyuki Hamura, Yousuke Ibusuki, Hidehiro Uekusa, Takashi Matsumoto, Jay S. Siegel, Kim K. Baldridge, and Keisuke SuzukiJ. Am. Chem. Soc.;2006; 128(31) pp 10032 - 10033;doi:10.1021/ja064063e