Synthesis and Electronic Properties of Fluoreno[2,1-a]fluorenedione and Fluoreno[1,2-a]fluorenedione.

The [2,1-a]- and [1,2-a]-isomers of fluorenofluorenedione have been synthesized via intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylations. DFT calculations indicate that the [1,2-a]-isomer adopts a twisted, helical C2-symmetric structure and that its protonated form is the thermodynamic product of the Friedel-Crafts acylation in hot sulfuric acid. Absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry measurements provide experimental estimations of frontier molecular orbital energy levels, which are reported and discussed.