The reaction between benzynes and imidazo [1, 2-a] pyridines (pyrimidines) to form benzo [a] imidazo [5, 1, 2-cd] indolizines and 2, 3, 9c-triazocyclopenta [j, k] fluorenes has been studied computationally and experimentally. It is found that these reactions take place via tandem [π8s+ π2s] and [σ2s+ π6s+ σ2s] processes. The [8+ 2] cycloaddition steps are essentially barrierless, and the aromatization steps occur via highly synchronous aromatic ...