Aryl pinacols and epoxides, respectively, are cleanly and in high yield converted via superacidic dehydrative cyclization to the corresponding condensed aromatics. Dehydrative cyclization of benzopinacol (1a), triphenylacetophenone (2), and tetraphenylethylene oxide (9) give 9, 10-diphenylphenanthrene (3a) as the major product in acidic media stronger than H o=-11. Aryl pinacol 12a forms the condensed aromatic 13a as the major product in ...