Charge migration in dicationic electrophiles and its application to the synthesis of aza-polycyclic aromatic compounds.

[reaction: see text] Superacid-promoted reactions of dicationic electrophiles have been studied, and the positive charge centers are found to migrate apart in a predictable manner. Using isotopic labeling the charge migration is found in one system to occur through successive deprotonation-reprotonation steps. The charge migration chemistry is the basis for new general synthetic route to aza-polycyclic aromatic compounds.