Palladium-Catalyzed Annulation of <i>o</i>‑Iodobiphenyls with <i>o</i>‑Bromobenzyl Alcohols: Synthesis of Functionalized Triphenylenes via C–C and C–H Bond Cleavages

Treatment of <i>o</i>-iodobiphenyls with <i>o</i>-bromobenzyl alcohols in the presence of cesium carbonate under palladium catalysis affords a series of highly substituted triphenylenes. The reaction involves two C–C bond formations and C–C and C–H bond cleavages. A combination of palladium and an electron-deficient phosphine ligand proves to be effective for both decarbonylative cross-coupling and intramolecular cyclization