Synthesis of Polycyclic Aromatics Having Unusual Molecular Architectures via Cascade Cyclization Reactions of Enyne-Allenes YU-HSUAN WANG The C 2 −C 6 Schmittel cyclization reaction of the benzannulated enyne−allenes provides an efficient synthetic pathway for the construction of a variety of polycyclic aromatics. By starting from truxenone, the cascade cyclization reactions furnished several unusual and congested polycyclic compounds. The in situ generated enyne−allenes are key intermediates in these cyclization reactions. A new synthetic approach to 2,2′-disubstituted 1,1′-binaphthyls and related compounds was also successfully developed by using the benzannulated enediynes as precursors. These 1,1′-binaphthyls derivatives can serve as potential BINOL type ligands. The assembly of the enediynyl precursors from three separate aromatic fragments allows the possibility of placing a variety of functional groups at various positions of the 1,1′-binaphthyl system. A 12-step non-pyrolytic synthetic pathway employing the Schmittel cyclization reactions has been developed, leading to a bowl-shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) having a 54-carbon framework of the surface of C 60. Incorporating of sp 3-carbons on the 54-carbon framework facilitates the connection of carbon atoms intramolecularly. iii Dedicated to My parents, brother, Leo, and sisters iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Firstly, I would like to express sincere appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Kung K. Wang, for his continuous support and encouragement during the past five years. His great patience and knowledge in chemistry guided me to solve so many problems. I was so pleased and lucky to have associated with this outstanding teacher and chemist. The way of his teaching not only benefits me academically but also led me to have a logical thinking when seeing through a problem. His enthusiasm and optimism are always my driving force to keep forward. My special thanks go to Dr. Jeffery Petersen for his significant work in X-ray crystal structure analysis. His work really helped me in identification of product structure which made my research keep forward. Also, Dr. Novruz.Akhmedov is greatly appreciated for his assistance in NMR studies of lots of my products. In addition, I would like to thank the rest of my research committee members, Dr. George A. O'Doherty, Dr. Peter M. Gannett, and Dr. John Penn for their valuable suggestions and discussion on my dissertation. My appreciation is also extended to the former and present group members, Dr. Hua Yang, Dr.