A rhodium-catalyzed one-pot access to valuable polycyclic
frameworks
of fluorenone-4-carboxylic acids and diphenic anhydrides via the oxidative
dimeric cyclization of aromatic acids has been developed. This transformation
proceeded via carboxyl-assisted 2-fold C–H activation followed
by intramolecular Friedel–Crafts or dehydration reactions.
The silver salt additive plays a vital role in the chemoselectivity
of the products. Diphenic anhydride 3l exhibits a maximum
fluorescence quantum yield of up to 59%.