Regioselective arene homologation through rhenium-catalyzed deoxygenative aromatization of 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-dienes

Combined use of oxorhenium catalysts with triphenyl phosphite as an oxygen acceptor allowed efficient deoxygenative aromatization of oxabicyclic dienes. The reaction proceeded under neutral conditions and was compatible with various functional groups. Combining this deoxygenation with regioselective bromination and trapping of the generated aryne with furan resulted in benzannulative π-extension at the periphery of the PAHs. This enabled direct use of unfunctionalized PAHs for extension of π-conjugation. Iteration of the transformations increased the number of fused-benzene rings one at a time, which has the potential to alter the properties of PAHs by fine-tuning the degree of π-conjugation, shape, and edge topology. A facile approach to PAHs with an arm-chair edge via regioselective bromination, Diels-Alder reaction, and rhenium-catalyzed deoxygenative aromatization is described.