Acene

In organic chemistry, the acenes or polyacenes are a class of organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons made up of benzene (C₆H₆) rings which have been linearly fused.^[1]^[2] They follow the general molecular formula C_4n+2H_2n+4.

The larger representatives have potential interest in optoelectronic applications and are actively researched in chemistry and electrical engineering. Pentacene has been incorporated into organic field-effect transistors, reaching charge carrier mobilities as high as 5 cm²/Vs.

The first 5 unsubstituted members are listed in the following table:

Name	Number of rings	Molecular formula
Anthracene	3	C₁₄H₁₀
Tetracene	4	C₁₈H₁₂
Pentacene	5	C₂₂H₁₄
Hexacene	6	C₂₆H₁₆
Heptacene	7	C₃₀H₁₈

Hexacene is not stable in air, and dimerises upon isolation. Heptacene (and larger acenes) is very reactive and has only been isolated in a matrix. However, bis(trialkylsilylethynylated) versions of heptacene have been isolated as crystalline solids.^[3]

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