Novel synthesis of biphenylene and its derivatives using intramolecular coupling of zincacyclopentadienes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)01082-X

Biphenylene and its derivatives were synthesized using the intramolecular coupling of benzoannelated zincacyclopentadiene intermediates prepared from 2,2'-dilithiobiaryls with ZnCl₂. The reaction proceeded smoothly and selectively to give the desired biphenylenes in moderate to good yields.