The ethyne-ethylidene rearrangement: Formation of indeno[2,1-α]indene and fluoranthene on flash vacuum pyrolysis of 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)73648-3

Diphenylbutadiyne on flash vacuum pyrolysis at 1120√0.03 Torr gave a pyrolysate (22% mass recovery) consisting of the diyne (7%), indeno[2,1-a]indene (19%), fluoranthene (59%), acephenanthrylene (13%) and aceanthrylene (2%). It is proposed that indeno[1,2-a]indene is formed via 3-phenyl-1,2-didehydronaphthalene and fluoranthene via 1-phenyl-2,3-didehydronaphthalene.