Hexaethylbenzene: A Sterically Crowded Arene and Conformationally Versatile Ligand

The syntheses, structures and dynamic behaviour of hexaethylbenzene and its transition metal and main group element complexes are reviewed. Sterically protected intermediates in the metal-catalysed trimerisation of 3-hexyne to form hexaethylbenzene are described, and the organic chemistry of hexaethylbenzene and of hexamethylbenzene are compared and contrasted.