AuCl-catalyzed reaction of ortho-alkynyl(oxo)benzene with benzenediazonium 2-carboxylate as a synthetic method towards anthracene, triptycene, and phthalazine derivatives

The AuCl-catalyzed benzannulation of ortho-alkynylphenyl ketones with benzenediazonium 2-carboxylate proceeded efficiently at 40 °C in (CH₂Cl)₂ and a variety of anthracene derivatives, having a ketone group at 9-position, were produced in good to high yields. On the other hand, the reaction of ortho-alkynylbenzaldehydes with benzenediazonium 2-carboxylate afforded triptycyl ketones. The reactions most probably proceed through the formation of a zwitterionic intermediate by the gold-induced electrophilic cyclization of ortho-alkynyl(oxo)benzenes, followed by the cycloaddition of benzyne. In contrast, when the above reaction was carried out at rt in 1,4-dioxane, phthalazine derivative was produced without the generation of benzyne.