Synthesis and crystal structure of polyaryl substituted diene derivatives based on the reduction of diphenylacetylene with lithium naphthalenide

The reduction of diphenylacetylene with lithium naphthalenide produced two kinds of intermediates, 1 or 2, depending on the ratio of diphenylacetylene to lithium naphthalenide. A series of polyaryl substituted ethylene/diene derivatives were synthesized by reaction of electrophiles with the corresponding intermediates produced in situ. All new compounds were fully characterized, and their single crystal structures were determined.