Photo-oxidation of 2,3,7,8-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2-b]-biphenylene in the presence of oxygen: unusual cleavage of a benzene ring to generate an alkyne unit
Abstract
2,3,7,8-Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2-b]biphenylene undergoes photochemical oxidative cleavage to give diketones (2), (3), and (4), two of which [(2) and (4)] contain an alkyne unit derived from the original central benzene ring.