Synlett 2013; 24(17): 2297-2301
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1339710
letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis of Phenanthrenes by Cationic Chromium(III) Porphyrin-Catalyzed Dehydration Cycloaromatization

Ryota Wakabayashi
a   Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan   Fax: +81(75)3832438   Email: kurahashi.takuya.2c@kyoto-u.ac.jp   Email: matsubara.seijiro.2e@kyoto-u.ac.jp
,
Takuya Kurahashi*
a   Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan   Fax: +81(75)3832438   Email: kurahashi.takuya.2c@kyoto-u.ac.jp   Email: matsubara.seijiro.2e@kyoto-u.ac.jp
b   JST, ACT-C, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan
,
Seijiro Matsubara*
b   JST, ACT-C, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 26 July 2013

Accepted after revision: 12 August 2013

Publication Date:
23 September 2013 (online)


Abstract

Readily available biphenyl derivatives with ortho oxirane moiety react in the presence of cationic chromiun(III) porphyrin catalyst to afford phenanthrenes. The reaction is considered to be triggered by activation of the oxirane moiety through coordination to the Lewis acidic cationic chromium to give aldehyde via 1,2-hydride shift, which reacts with arene through intramolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution and subsequent dehydration. The reaction allows constructing a variety of polycyclic aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds.

Supporting Information