Staffane
{{Short description|Polycyclic hydrocarbon}}
A staffane or [n]staffane is an organic compound, a polycyclic hydrocarbon with molecular structure H-[-C≡(-CH2-)3≡C-]n-H, for some integer n ≥ 1. The chemical formula is therefore C5nH6n+2
Staffanes were first obtained in 1988 by Piotr Kaszyński{{cite web | url=https://nauka-polska.pl/#/profile/scientist?id=210220&_k=yr80re | title=Nowa Nauka Polska }}{{cite web | url=https://www.cbmm.lodz.pl/pracownicy/piotr-kaszynski/ | title=» Kaszyński Piotr }}{{cite web | url=https://www.uni.lodz.pl/pracownicy/piotr-kaszynski | title=Piotr Kaszyński }} and Josef Michl, by spontaneous polymerization of [1.1.1]-propellane C5H6 or C2(=CH2)3.{{cite journal | url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja00223a070 | doi=10.1021/ja00223a070 | title=[n]Staffanes: A molecular-size "Tinkertoy" construction set for nanotechnology. Preparation of end-functionalized telomers and a polymer of [1.1.1]propellane | date=1988 | last1=Kaszynski | first1=Piotr. | last2=Michl | first2=Josef. | journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society | volume=110 | issue=15 | pages=5225–5226 | url-access=subscription }} In the reaction, the axial C-C bond of the propellane (the "bridge") is broken, creating a free bond on each of the two axial carbons (the "bridgeheads"). The resulting structural unit [-C≡(-CH2-)3≡C-] is a rigid cage, consisting of two carbon atoms joined by three methylene bridges; therefore the joined units are constrained to lie on a straight line. This feature has generated substantial interest among nanotechnology researchers, who have considered staffane oligomers as convenient "rigid rods" for building all sorts of nanostructures.
An oligomer with a specific number n of units is denoted by [n]staffane (e.g., [1]staffane, [2]staffane, etc..) The notation [n]staffane is used when the number of units is variable or unspecified; in this case the "n" in the brackets is not a variable, but the letter "n", considered part of the name.
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