J. Phys. Chem. Lett.: RESOLV member, Prof. André K. Eckhardt presents a novel gas-phase reaction that merges cycloaddition and cross-coupling in a single collision, enabling the in situ formation of aromatic molecules via a radical pathway. Crossed molecular beam experiments and electronic structure calculations reveal the formation of (substituted) arylacetylenes from 1,3-butadiynyl radicals and conjugated dienes. This discovery offers new insights into molecular mass growth in cold interstellar and planetary environments.
