title: The synthesis of angularly fused polyaromatic compounds by using a light-assisted, base-mediated cyclization reaction.
abstract: The synthesis of substituted polyaromatic compounds that contain at least four benzene rings fused together in an angular fashion is described. Suzuki coupling of 1-bromo-3,4-dihydronaphthalene-2-carbaldehyde with a number of aromatic boronic acids affords products such as 1-(1,4-dimethoxy-3-methyl-2-naphthyl)-3,4-dihydronaphthalene-2-carbaldehyde. Exposure of these dihydronaphthalenes to potassium tert-butoxide and DMF at 80 degrees C yields polyaromatic compounds such as 9,14-dimethoxynaphtho[1,2-a]anthracene.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Wits, 2050, South Africa.
authors.forename: Rakhi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Kantharuby
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandayar
authors.forename: Willem A L
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: van Otterlo
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Manuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: de Koning