A series of sterically restricted 5, 6-diarylacenaphthenes 5, 11, 12, 13 and 14 have been prepared via Suzuki cross-couplings of the appropriate boronic acids with 5, 6- dibromoacenaphthene 3 in an attempt to prevent atropisomer interconversion in these systems. Attempts to further functionalise bis (p-methoxyphenyl) system 5 in the position ortho to the methyl ethers by Friedel–Crafts acylation or metallation were unsuccessful; ...
