Bay-region-selective annulative π-extension (APEX) of perylene diimides with arynes

Abstract

A bay-region-selective annulative π-extension (APEX) reaction of perylene diimides (PDIs) has been achieved by means of in-situ generated reactive aryne intermediates. This method provides an efficient one-pot π-extension at the short axis of PDIs in a sequential manner. Mechanistically, an inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction might be operative for the transformation.