Harnessing Thermally Labile Tethered Tetraynes to Access para -Diethynylbenzenes: A Ni(0)-Catalyzed Cocyclotrimerization Strategy

We disclose a Ni(0)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclotrimerization of tethered tetraynes with alkynes, providing rapid access to para-diethynylbenzenes (p-DEBs), key scaffolds in optoelectronic materials, such as molecular wires, photovoltaics, and OLEDs. The method tolerates thermally labile tetraynes and delivers diverse p-DEBs. Control experiments supported the proposed mechanism. The synthetic utility was demonstrated by conversion to [5]-helicene, and the optical properties of p-DEBs were investigated.