The molecule of 3,3',4,4'-tetrakis(phenylethynyl)biphenyl, C(44)H(26), is approximately planar and is located on a crystallographic inversion center. Bis[3,4-bis(phenylethynyl)phenyl] ether, C(44)H(26)O, has molecules located on twofold symmetry axes, whereas the molecule of 2,2-bis[3,4-bis(phenylethynyl)phenyl]propane, C(47)H(32), does not exhibit any molecular symmetry.