Functionalized tetraarylphthalimides or diarylphthalimides
fused with an acenaphthene moiety have been prepared in one step
from 2-bromomaleimide and tetraarylcyclopentadienones (tetracyclones)
or 7,9-diaryl-8H-cyclopentacenaphthylene-8-ones (acecyclones).
The reaction, involving a cycloaddition-decarbonylation-dehydrobromination
sequence, gives high isolated yields and is compatible with the
presence of various functional groups.
arenes - cyclopentadienones - Diels-Alder
reaction - elimination - imides