Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (HOTf) promoted cross-coupling of ortho-[2-(4-methoxylphenyl)-alkynyl]acetophenones with ortho-alkynylbenzaldehydes affording chrysene derivatives has been developed. The present cascade reaction provides a facile one-pot synthesis of multisubstituted chrysenes as well as naked chrysene under mild conditions. The mechanism experimental results demonstrate isochromenylium is a key intermediate for this transformation.