Intramolecular benzoallene-alkyne cycloaddition initiated by site-selective S N 2' reaction of epoxytetracene en route to π-extended pyracylene.

A hydrogen halide promoted cascade reaction of epoxytetracene to afford halo-benzoindenotetracene including a benzoallene intermediate was developed. The remaining two alkynyl groups in benzoindenotetracene were further reacted with norbornadiene or arylamine through transition metal-catalyzed cyclization to give pi-extended pyracylene derivatives.