Ethynyl sulfides as participants in cascade cycloaromatizations

Isomerization of soluble precursor compounds to produce fused-ring systems is an attractive approach for preparing conjugated polymers and oligomers. Cycloaromatization chemistry has previously been explored in this capacity employing reactions based on the Bergman cyclization. Using ethynyl sulfides with a terminal o-diethynylbenzene unit, an alternative strategy is demonstrated that offers selectivity advantages in the kinetically controlled radical cyclizations. The products are acene-fused thiophenes in which the diethynylsulfide acts as a relay for the diradical produced in a Bergman cyclization.