A strategy for the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by the ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) of pendant olefins on a phenylene backbone has been developed. RCM of 2, 4', 6', 2''-tetravinyl-[1, 1'; 3', 1''] terphenyl and 2, 2', 5', 2''-tetravinyl-[1, 1'; 4', 1'] terphenyl affords in high yield the isomeric [a, j] and [a, h] dibenzanthracenes, respectively. In contrast with other intramolecular annulation methods, such as Friedel-Crafts acylations ...