Diels–Alder cycloaddition of acetylene gas to a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bay region

Abstract

The direct conversion of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bay region to a new, unsubstituted benzene ring by Diels-Alder cycloaddition of acetylene gas is reported for the first time. At 140 °C in dimethylformamide, under 1.8 atm pressure of acetylene gas, 7,14-dimesitylbisanthene is slowly converted to 7,14-dimesitylbenzo[ghi]bisanthene (21% conversion in 48 h).