Chemistry of Anthracene–Acetylene Oligomers. XIV. Convenient Synthesis of Anthrylethynes by Double Elimination Reaction from Aldehydes and Sulfones

Three dianthrylethynes and an anthracene―acetylene trimer were conveniently synthesized by double elimination reactions starting from anthraldehydes and [(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]anthracenes. In the optimal one-shot process, a THF solution of these substrates and diethyl chlorophosphate was treated with LiHMDS at room temperature to give the desired alkynes in excellent yields without chromatographic purification. The structure of one of the intermediate vinyl sulfones was determined by X-ray crystallography.