Cyclic Alkyne Approach to Heteroatom-Containing Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Scaffolds

We report a modular synthetic strategy for accessing heteroatom-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that relies on the controlled generation of transient heterocyclic alkynes and arynes. The strained intermediates undergo in situ trapping with readily accessible oxadiazinones. Four sequential pericyclic reactions occur, namely two Diels–Alder / retro-Diels–Alder sequences, which can be performed in a stepwise or one-pot fashion to assemble four new carbon–carbon (C–C) bonds.