title: An atom- and pot-economical consecutive multi-step reaction approach to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
abstract: A novel one-pot benzannulation reaction has been developed for the synthesis of substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the direct coupling of propargylic aldehydes/alcohols with 1,1-diarylethanol through an atom-economical uninterrupted three/four-step reaction sequence under mild and metal-free reaction conditions. The strategy involves an acid-catalyzed dehydration and carbon-carbon bond formation followed by DBU-promoted cycloisomerization. Naphthalene and phenanthrene were obtained via mono-benzannulation, and chrysene, picene and benzopicene were obtained involving consecutive di-benzannulation reactions in good yields starting from easily accessible starting materials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500007, India. rajireddy@iict.res.in.
authors.forename: Chada
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1491-7381
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raji Reddy
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500007, India. rajireddy@iict.res.in.
authors.forename: Uredi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dilipkumar
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500007, India. rajireddy@iict.res.in.
authors.forename: Ravula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shravya