Biphenylene and 1‐Azabiphenylene as a Platform for Synthesis of Azapolyaromatic Compounds

Attempts to carry out intramolecular annulation of 9,10‐diarylbenzo[h]quinolines and 9,10‐di(hetero)arylphenanthrenes to aromatics with expanded π‐conjugated systems by using different methods are described. The starting compounds (9,10‐diarylbenzo[h]quinolines and 9,10‐di(hetero)arylphenanthrenes) were prepared by C−C bond activation in 1‐azabiphenylene or biphenylene followed by insertion of internal alkynes. Interestingly, unlike in purely carbon‐based aromatics, the course of the annulation turned out to be highly dependent on the structure of maternal compounds. In a handful of cases were obtained the expected or desired products. In others, unexpected rearrangements of the basic molecular frameworks were observed.