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Annulative π-extension (APEX) reactions of heteroarenes are described herein. A catalytic system comprising a cationic palladium species and o-chloranil using dimethyldibenzosiloles as π-extending agents enabled the extension of the π-system of benzo[b]thiophenes. π-Extended dibenzofurans and carbazoles could also be obtained from benzofuran and N-tosylindole, respectively, with dimethyldibenzogermole as a germanium-based π-extending agent. Mechanistic investigations indicated two possible reaction pathways involving carbopalladation-based double C-H arylation of benzothiophene or formal cycloaddition/oxidation cascades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]