Application to nanographene synthesis
Scholl reaction and nanographene synthesis

As previously stated, the most common and often most effective reaction conditions for the Scholl reaction are the use of iron(III) chloride at room temperature in a solvent mixture consisting of CH₂Cl₂ and CH₃NO₂ . Dichloromethane is useful for solubilizing the flexible precursors, while nitromethane is used to solubilize the inorganic reagent.

As the reaction mechanism involves highly reactive carbocationic or radical intermediates, it is important to work under an inert atmosphere (argon), and to use anhydrous solvents and previously dried glassware. It is also possible that certain dichloromethane stabilizers, even in very small quantities, may interfere with the reaction, so the...