During the past two decades, shape-persistent conjugated macrocycles with a broad spectrum of attributes and topologies have been synthesized. This includes macrocycles with remarkable electronic, optical, and supramolecular properties, as well as intriguing frameworks. Expanded radialenes are a class of conjugated shape-persistent macrocycles that arise from the formal insertion of acetylene units into a radialene framework. A related class of macrocycles, the expanded radiaannulenes, contains both endo- and exocyclic vinylene and vinylidene segments, respectively, and accordingly exhibits properties intermediate between radialenes and annulenes. Enyne building blocks have been developed that are suitable for forming a macrocyclic framework through a step-wise sequence of Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. This "building-block" approach allows us to explore a range of molecular architectures that will ultimately provide for an understanding of π-delocalization in these compounds. The synthesis and structural characterization of the first members of this new class of expanded radialenes and radiaannulenes are described.
