Construction of polyaromatics via photocyclization of 2-(fur-3-yl)ethenylarenes, using a 3-furyl group as an isopropenyl equivalent synthon

The construction of different types of substituted arenes was demonstrated through the photocyclization of 2-(fur-3-yl)ethenylarenes using a 3-furyl group as an isopropenyl equivalent synthon in the photocyclization reaction. The furan portion of the photocyclization intermediate could be fragmented via a base-induced elimination reaction to yield a series of substituted polyaromatics, including naphthalene, benzofuran, benzothiophene, phenanthrene, phenalene, acenaphthene, and triphenylene. Using different reagents, this method made it possible to introduce methyl or 2-hydroxyethyl groups as substituents at specific positions in these arenes.

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