Expeditious synthesis of fluorinated styrylbenzenes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons

A series of fluorinated styrylbenzene derivatives were synthesized by the Mizoroki-Heck reaction using phosphine-free catalytic conditions or by adopting the one-pot Wittig-Heck reaction sequence. The fluorinated styrylbenzenes were converted into polyaromatic hydrocarbons such as phenanthrenes, [4]helicenes, and benzo[ghi]perylene by a modified photocyclization procedure involving I2-THF condition.