Electrophilic Cyanative Alkenylation of Arenes.

A variety of appropriately substituted internal alkynes were transformed into the corresponding cyano-substituted phenanthrenes, dihydronaphthalenes, and cyclohepta-1,3,5-trienes in moderate to excellent yields by treatment with imidazolium thiocyanate 1, which serves as an easy to handle [CN]+ precursor, in the presence of BCl3. The synthetic value of the method is additionally demonstrated by the transformation of the primarily obtained products into heavily substituted quinolines. Additionally, the dynamic properties of the prepared dibenzocyclohepta-1,3,5-trienes have been investigated.