Synthesis of highly substituted acenes through rhodium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of arylboron reagents with alkynes.

The rhodium-catalyzed oxidative 1:2 coupling reactions of arylboronic acids or their esters with alkynes smoothly proceed to produce the corresponding annulated products. Of special note, highly substituted, readily soluble, and tractable anthracene and tetracene derivatives can be obtained selectively from 2-naphthyl- and 2-anthrylboron reagents, respectively.