The syntheses, structures and dynamic behaviour of hexaethylbenzene and its transition metal and main group element complexes are reviewed. Sterically protected intermediates in the metal-catalysed trimerisation of 3-hexyne to form hexaethylbenzene are described, and the organic chemistry of hexaethylbenzene and of hexamethylbenzene are compared and contrasted.
Keywords: alkyne trimerisations; arene ligands; electron transfer; molecular conformations; rotational barriers.
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