Flexible Synthesis of Phenanthrenes by a PtCl2-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization Reaction

Readily available biphenyl derivatives containing an alkyne unit at one of their ortho positions are converted into substituted phenanthrenes upon exposure to catalytic amounts of either PtCl(2), AuCl(3), GaCl(3), or InCl(3) in toluene. This 6-endo-dig cyclization likely proceeds through initial pi-... View More