Modular Synthesis of Diarylalkynes and Their Efficient Conversion into Luminescent Tetraarylbutadienes

A series of electronically distinct symmetrical diarylalkynes were prepared via a general Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling protocol. These alkynes underwent zirconium-mediated coupling to yield zirconacycles that afford new tetraaryl-1,3-butadienes upon subsequent protonolysis; these butadienes display deep blue or green emission and represent promising building blocks for light-emitting devices. The presented synthetic pathway allows access to new libraries of molecular light emitters with tunable luminescence and considerable thermal- and photostabilities.