Synthesis of triphenylene derivatives by Pd-catalyzed Suzuki coupling/intramolecular C H activation between arylboronic acids and dibromobiphenyls

•Mono-metallic reagents were firstly used to prepare triphenylenes.•Excellent atomic economy and regioselectivity.•The synthetic feasibility of unsymmetrical triphenylenes.•An efficient and low-cost approach to dibenzochrysene derivatives.