Synthesis of a Janus pentiptycene containing two thiophene rings using an intramolecular Fagan-Nugent reaction.

Zirconocene-mediated synthesis of a triptycene and a pentiptycene where one or two, respectively, of the aryl rings of the iptycene are replaced by [c]-fused thiophenes is demonstrated. A 9,10-disubstituted anthracene bearing silyl-protected cis-1,2-dichloroethylene and acetylene groups has also been isolated and a mechanism for its formation proposed.