A Convenient Route to 2‐Hydroxy‐ and 2,15‐Dihydroxyhexahelicene

2-Hydroxy- and 2,15-dihydroxyhexahelicene were synthesised from simple benzene and naphthalene building blocks by intramolecular CoI- or Ni0-catalysed [2+2+2] cycloisomerisation of CH3O-substituted aromatic triynes. This approach avoids vexing photodehydrocyclisation of stilbene-type precursors, providing thus a useful alternative to classical procedures. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)