APEX Strategy Represented by Diels–Alder Cycloadditions—New Opportunities for the Syntheses of Functionalised PAHs

Diels–Alder cycloaddition of various dienophiles to the bay region of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is a particularly effective and useful tool for the modification of the structure of PAHs and thereby their final properties. The Diels–Alder cycloaddition belongs to the single-step annulative π-extension (APEX) reactions and represents the maximum in synthetic efficiency for the constructions of π-extended PAHs including functionalised ones, nanographenes, and π-extended fused heteroarenes. Herein we report new applications of the APEX strategy for the synthesis of derivatives of 1,2-diarylbenzoghi]perylene, 1,2-diarylbenzoghi]perylenebisimide and 1,2-disubstituted-benzoj]coronene. Namely, the so far unknown cycloaddition of 1,2-diarylacetylenes into the perylene and perylenebisimide bay regions was used. 1,2-Disubstituted-benzoj]coronenes were obtained via cycloaddition of benzyne into 1,2-diarylbenzoghi]perylenes by using a new highly effective system for benzyne generation and/or high pressure conditions. Moreover, we report an unprecedented Diels–Alder cycloaddition–cycloaromatisation domino-type reaction between 1,4-(9,9-dialkylfluoren-3-yl)-1,3-butadiynes and perylene. The obtained diaryl-substituted core-extended PAHs were characterised by DFT calculation as well as electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements.