A convenient new synthesis of the ubiquitous environmental carcinogen benzo [a] pyrene (BaP) is described. In the key step, the method entails Suzuki coupling of naphthalene 2- boronic acid with 2-bromobenzene-1, 3-dialdehyde and requires only three steps. It is considerably shorter and simpler than the older methods and provides BaP in higher overall yield.
