Ring Closing Metathesis Approach for the Synthesis of o ‐Terphenyl Derivatives

A linear synthesis of o ‐terphenyl derivatives has been delineated using ring closing metathesis (RCM) as the key step. In this approach, benzil derivatives upon allyl Grignard addition provides diphenyl‐1,2‐diallyl dihydroxy derivatives which undergo ring closing metathesis to afford tetrahydro terphenyl derivatives. Aromatization‐driven dehydration then leads to a diverse set of electron rich and electron deficient o ‐terphenyls. Furthermore, oxidative coupling of electron rich o ‐terphenyls provides the corresponding triphenylene derivatives.