Boron-mediated sequential alkyne insertion and C–C coupling reactions affording extended π-conjugated molecules

C-C bond coupling reactions illustrate the wealth of organic transformations, which are usually mediated by organotransition metal complexes. Here, we show that a borafluorene with a B-Cl moiety can mediate sequential alkyne insertion (1,2-carboboration) and deborylation/Csp(2)-Csp(2) coupling reactions, leading to aromatic molecules. The first step, which affords a borepin derivative, proceeds very efficiently between the borafluorene and various alkynes by simply mixing these two components. The second step is triggered by a one-electron oxidation of the borepin derivative, which results in the formation of a phenanthrene framework. When an excess amount of oxidant is used in the second step, the phenanthrene derivatives can be further transformed in situ to afford dibenzog,pchrysene derivatives. The results presented herein will substantially expand the understanding of main group chemistry and provide a powerful synthetic tool for the construction of a wide variety of extended π-conjugated systems.