Oxford Chemists Stabilize Cyclo[48]carbon – A Breakthrough New Allotrope of Carbon

Oxford University chemists have achieved a historic milestone in carbon chemistry when they were able to stabilize cyclo[48]carbon, a new form of carbon. This novel molecule, comprising 48 carbon atoms in a ring with alternating triple and single bonds, is the first stable cyclocarbon in liquid solution at room temperature. Past efforts to investigate carbon rings needed cryogenic temperatures, but the breakthrough means direct observation under common laboratory conditions. The researchers achieved stability by threading the carbon ring through protective molecular loops into a cyclo[48]carbon [4]catenane, which is resistant to degradation. Highly sophisticated analytical methods, such as NMR, Raman, UV-visible spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, verified the structure with incredible accuracy. With a half-life of 92 hours at 20°C, this breakthrough sets the stage to study the reactivity and nature of cyclocarbons like never before. Fullerenes alone (which were first found in 1990) had joined the family of stable carbon allotropes so far. The research, conducted by Professor Harry Anderson and Dr. Yueze Gao, is the product of more than a decade of diligent work. In August 2025, the discovery was published in Science. The discovery opens up possibilities for future application in nanotechnology, molecular electronics, and new materials.

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