Unusual redox play of Mo(V/IV) during oxidative aryl–aryl coupling

The oxidative treatment of a suitable 1,3-diarylpropene precursor by MoCl5 causes a series of redox steps yielding a dimer of dibenzo[a,c]cycloheptene. After the oxidative aryl–aryl bond formation, a C,H activation occurs providing a tropylium intermediate. Upon aqueous workup the metal waste acts as reductive media generating the dimer in an almost quantitative manner. The oxidative generation of the tropylium species as well as the subsequent redox play by the metal waste is unique and unprecedented. The dimeric compound can be oxidatively cleaved and subsequently decarboxylated providing the key intermediate of a previous synthesis of metasequirin-B derivatives.