Synthesis of fluorantheno[1,2-b]thiophene and fluorantheno[3,2-b]thiophene,isosteres of benzofluoranthenes

The total syntheses of fluorantheno1,2-b]thiophene and fluorantheno3,2-b]thiophene are reported. The common cyclobutanone intermediate which was obtained by 2 + 2] addition of fluorenylidene ketene with 2,3-dihydrothiophene underwent regioselectively α or β ring opening to lead to linear or angular PAC skeleton molecules under desired conditions. 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone was applied for aromatization to achieve the formation of PAC's. These two isosteres exhibit very similar uv/visible spectra to benzoa] and b]fluoranthenes respectively. Spectroscopic data used for their structural assignments is also discussed.