Unexpected formation of poly-functionalized fulvenes by the reaction of a tetraaryl[5]cumulene with iodine.

Longer cumulenes have come to draw considerable attention due to their unique properties and reactivities, leading to various hydrocarbons. In this manuscript, we describe the reaction of tetrakis(p-methoxyphenyl)[5]cumulene with iodine to afford poly-functionalized fulvenes via unexpected migration of a terminal aryl ring under ambient conditions. The obtained iodinated fulvenes were utilized in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions affording penta- and fully-arylated fulvenes successfully.

Regioisomeric allene dimer formation by the reaction of tetraarylbutatrienes with tetracyanoethene.

The reaction of tetraarylbutatrienes (tetraaryl[3]cumulenes) with tetracyanoethene (TCNE), a strong electron-accepting molecule, at room temperature yielded novel four-membered ring compounds (head-to-tail unsymmetrically substituted diarylallene dimers) by [2 + 2] cycloaddition of the central C=C bond of the butatrienes. This reaction proceeded through a head-to-head symmetrically substituted diarylallene dimer intermediate. Unsymmetrical butatriene also formed a small amount of another head-to-tail dimer. Although the allene dimer is stable in nonpolar solvents, it converts to other bicyclic and tricyclic compounds in MeOH or CH3CN at room temperature.