Synthesis of Multisubstituted Triphenylenes and Phenanthrenes by Cascade Reaction of <i>o</i>-Iodobiphenyls or (<i>Z</i>)-β-Halostyrenes with <i>o</i>-Bromobenzyl Alcohols through Two Sequential C–C Bond Formations Catalyzed by a Palladium Complex
bearing both nucleophilic and electrophilic substituents, for the facile synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A palladium/electron-deficient phosphine catalyst efficiently coupled o-iodobiphenyls or (Z)-β-halostyrenes with o-bromobenzyl alcohols to afford triphenylenes and phenanthrenes, respectively. The present cascade reaction proceeded through deacetonative cross-coupling and sequential intramolecular