The treatment of 9,10-diphenylanthracenes with DDQ in the presence of TfOH readily
gave the corresponding rubicene derivatives in good yields. The effects of oxidant,
acid, substituent, and other conditions are discussed. This protocol involving the
Scholl reaction is convenient for the preparation of some rubicene derivatives from
conventional starting materials.
Key words
rubicene - Scholl reaction - DDQ - oxidation - arenes