Porphyrin ring pushes the size limit for fully aromatic molecules

By Khushleen Kaur2025-09-17T13:30:00

Chemical structure showing an organic ring of 18 units that include nitrogen, argon and zinc around a snowflakes like organic structure with six branches each with three subbranches

Source: © Jake M. Holmes et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2025

Nanoring structure features 18 porphyrin units linked together by butadiyne units

A nanoring with a diameter of eight nanometres is the largest molecule yet to show global aromaticity. While aromaticity is usually seen in smaller rings, the new structure pushes the size limit for the phenomenon.