Expansion of the pentafluorobenzene ring of perfluoro-1,2-diethyl-1-phenylbenzocyclobutene under the action of SbF5

Perfluoro-1,2-diethyl-1-phenylbenzocyclobutene under the action of SbF5 gives, after treatment of the reaction mixture with water, perfluoro-4-[1-(6-propyl-phenyl)-propylidene]cyclohexa-2,5-dienone along with the products of unusual pentafluorobenzene ring expansion – perfluorinated 4b,10-diethylbenzo[a]azulen-7(4bH)-one and 10-ethylbenzo[a]azulen-6(10H)-one.