What is "aryne"

n. (context chemistry English) any hydrocarbon, normally a transient species, derived from an arene by removal of two hydrogen atoms from adjacent carbon atoms, and thus possessing a formal triple bond; the simplest is benzyne

Arynes or benzynes are highly reactive species derived from an aromatic ring by removal of two ortho substituents. Arynes are usually best described as having a strained triple bond; however, they possess some biradical character as well. The term aryne is most closely associated with ortho-aryne (1,2-didehydrobenzene), however 1,3- and 1,4-didehydrobenzene intermediates have been described.

The discovery of benzyne led to rapid developments in synthetic methodologies to make this highly reactive intermediate useful for organic synthesis. A variety of natural products have been prepared using arynes as intermediates.