Design and synthesis of C3-symmetric molecules containing oxepine and benzofuran moieties via Metathesis

We report a new synthetic strategy to C3-symmetric star-shaped phenyl and triazine central cores bearing oxepine and benzofuran ring systems. In this regard, we have explored the application of metathetic strategy to construct C3-symmetric molecules starting with commercially available p-hydroxy acetophenone and p-hydroxy benzonitrile through cyclotrimerization, double bond isomerization, and ring-closing metathesis as key steps. We also studied photophysical properties of these molecules by fluorescence spectroscopic data. All compounds except 1 and 2 exhibit strong fluorescence.