Luminescent Chiral Furanol-PAHs via Straightforward Ni-Catalysed Csp2 -F Functionalization: Mechanistic Insights into the Scholl Reaction.

Here we report the stepwise synthesis of new nanographenes (NGs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) obtained via Scholl ring fusion applied at aromatic homologation compounds, which are obtained through one-step Ni-catalysed Csp2 -F functionalization. The latter are rapidly accessed valid precursors for the Scholl reaction, and screening of experimental conditions allowed us to describe for the first time furanol-bearing PAHs. Mechanistic insights are obtained by DFT to rationalize the formation of the furanol PAHs under moderately acidic conditions. All PAHs and NGs synthesized show moderate/weak fluorescent properties, and all PAHs crystallized show some degree of curvature and are obtained as racemic mixtures. Enantiomeric separation by chiral HPLC of one furanol-bearing PAH allowed the study of their chiroptical CD properties.

Nickel-Catalyzed Csp2 -OMe Functionalization for Chemoselective Aromatic Homologation En Route to Nanographenes.

A Ni-catalyzed Csp2 -OMe ortho-functionalization methodology to form chemoselectively alkyne monoannulation or aromatic homologation products is reported as a novel protocol towards the valorisation of substrates containing Csp2 -OMe units. Double activation of Csp2 -OMe and Csp2 -F bonds is also demonstrated. Further use of aromatic homologation products towards the synthesis of nanographene-like compounds is described.