Synthesis of Benzo[a]fluorene, Benzo[c]fluorene, and Benzo[j]fluoranthene via a Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Prins‐Type Cycloaromatization: Application to the Total Synthesis of Viridistratin A.

The front cover illustrates the streamlined synthesis of representative non-alternant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through Lewis acid-catalyzed Prins-type cycloaromatization (on the earth). Notable features of the catalytic reaction encompass air tolerance, high productivity, remarkably short reaction times, and scalability. The plausible mechanism suggests that Prins-type benzannulation competes with oxonium-ene cyclization. The robustness and high productivity of the key reaction allowed the application towards total synthesis of natural benzo[j]fluoranthene, viridistratin A (on the moon). Details can be found in the Communication by Hwayoung Yun and co-workers (M. Jeong, M. Yoon, L. H. Nguyen, S. Kim, J. Han, C. S. Tran, J. Kim, J. Jo, Y.-S. Jung, J.-W. Yoo, H. Yun, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2024, 366, XXXX–XXXX, DOI: 10.1002/adsc.202300600).