W. C. Wu, A. C. Grimsdale, K. Müllen
Cyclodehydrogenation of di- and tetra(benzimidazol-2- yl)benzenes to give model heteroaromatic discotic systems.
Chemical Communications.  (9), 1044-1045  (2003)
P-03-30

Di- and tetra(benzimidazol-2-yl)benzenes upon oxidation undergo cyclodehydrogenation with formation of N-N bonds to form planarized polycyclic compounds which are models for the cores of heteroatom-containing discotic materials, and which can be readily reduced back to the original compounds, thus demonstrating a molecular redox switch.