Palladium-Catalyzed\nBicycloaromatization of <i>o</i>‑(Alkynyl)styrenes\nwith Alkynes: Economical Access\nto Chrysene Derivatives

Herein, a palladium-catalyzed bicycloaromatization of <i>o</i>-(alkynyl)styrenes with alkynes is reported. In this protocol,\nthe\n6-<i>endo</i>-<i>dig</i> cyclization of <i>o</i>-(alkynyl)styrenes is followed by deprotonation to complete\nthe first cycloaromatization, and then, a regioselective alkyne insertion/C–H\nactivation occurs to achieve the second cycloaromatization, resulting\nin atom- and step-economical syntheses of polysubstituted chrysenes.\nNotably, the products can be further used to construct π-extended\narenes using the Scholl reaction.