Emerging optically active tetraphenylenes: Advances and challenges in synthesis and applications in asymmetric catalysis and chiral functional materials

Due to the configurational stabilities and unique properties of tetraphenylenes, extensive investigations in their uses in supramolecular chemistry, asymmetric catalysis, liquid crystalline materials, helical scaffolds, molecular devices, organic light-emitting diodes, covalent-organic frameworks, and others, have been investigated. More recently, the emerging applications of chiral tetraphenylene-based ligands/catalysts in asymmetric catalysis and in π-conjugated molecules as chiral materials have renewed the interest of synthetic chemists to explore novel applications of tetraphenylenes. In this perspective, we summarize and examine the synthetic advances and challenges of the emerging optically active tetraphenylenes, as well as focus on introducing their fascinating applications in asymmetric catalysis and chiral functional materials.