Abstract

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) containing 4–7 benzene rings were synthesized via a methylarene-based protocol. Trimethyl[2-(trifluoromethyl)allyl]silane was electrophilically benzylated with Ar1CH2Br (prepared from Ar1CH3) to afford 2-trifluoromethyl-1-alkenes that were in turn nucleophilically benzylated with Ar2CH2Li (prepared from Ar2CH3) through an SN2′-type reaction to produce 1,1-difluoroethylenes, which are cyclization precursors bearing two 2-arylethyl groups. Magic acid efficiently promoted the domino Friedel–Crafts-type cyclization of these precursors, followed by dehydrogenation that enabled the connection among two aryl groups (Ar1 and Ar2) by forming two benzene rings between them, facilitating the synthesis of the desired higher-order PAHs. With the proposed protocol, the combination of even a limited number of methylarenes can yield a variety of PAHs in diverse configurations.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.