title: Benzenoid polycyclic hydrocarbons with an open-shell biradical ground state.
abstract: This Focus Review describes the recent progress, from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, on four types of benzenoid polycyclic hydrocarbons with an open-shell biradical ground state: 1) acenes, 2) periacenes and anthenes, 3) zethrenes, and 4) extended p-quinodimethane derivatives. These interesting molecules have provided excellent platforms to investigate the electronic structures of nanographenes and represent promising candidates for the next generation of molecule-based materials in the field of electronics, spintronics, and non-linear optics. The focus of this article will be put on the structural significance, the physical properties relevant to the open-shell electronic configurations, and potential applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, 117543 (Singapore), Fax: (+ 65) 6779-1691.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zebing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jishan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
keywords: aromaticity; biradical; graphene; ground state configuration; polycycles