Abstract
(Chemical Equation Presented) We report one-pot syntheses of chrysene compounds via PtCl 2 -catalyzed hydrative dimerization of readily available 2-alkynyl-1-acetylbenzenes. This new tandem catalysis comprises an initial selective hydration of the alkyne, followed by chemoselective dimerization of diketone intermediates. The mechanism of this cyclization has been elucidated by 13 C labeling experiments as well as isolation of reaction intermediates. © 2007 American Chemical Society.