Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of diphenylacetylenederivatives. While the conversion of 1 into [12]BC is still under investigation, an unexpected rearrangement of the triene moieties in 1, affording a tribenzo[f,k,m]tetraphene structure, was discovered during the screening of reaction conditions. An attempt was made to rationalize this result by proposing a plausible reaction mechanism that proceeds via intermediates
of 1 resolved by chiral HPLC underwent facile racemization with an activation energy of 90.6 kJ mol–1. Transannularcyclization of 1 was induced by heating to generate benzyne intermediate 8, which was intercepted by furan to give 9, and by treatment with bromine to give dibromodibenzopicene (10).