Chromium-Mediated Synthesis of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds

Significance

This is a simple and versatile approach to the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic compounds, also carrying heteroatoms. The first step of the process is the formation of lithiated biphenyls, which can be performed either by halogen-lithium exchange reaction or by a direct metallation. Thus, the scope of suitable starting materials is quite broad. The reaction with silyl­acetylenes followed by electrophilic iodination gives cyclic products, for which the reaction can be repeated. The polycyclic arenes represent a significant interest for material science as materials with possibly new physical properties, for instance, for electronic devices.