title: Thermal cyclodehydrogenations to form 6-membered rings: cyclizations of [5]helicenes.
abstract: Flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) of [5]helicene induces a thermal cyclodehydrogenation to form benzo[ghi]perylene. Evidence is presented that supports an electrocyclization-rearomatization mechanism and is inconsistent with mechanistic alternatives involving the intermediacy of aryl radicals or carbenes in the helicene fjord region.
authors.affiliation: Merkert Chemistry Center, Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467-3860, USA.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Lawrence T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Scott