A molecular hamburger - bonded benzene in a bun

<p dir="ltr">The scaffold bis-succinimide 4 is shown to react twice with 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(bromomethyl)benzene 5 specifically at the <i>para</i>-related bromomethyl groups to form a multi-ring alicyclophane system 3 in which the benzene ring is sandwiched between the alicyclic frames to form a molecular ‘hamburger’.</p>