Studies in the Cycloproparene Series: 3,8-Dioxa-1H-cyclopropa[b]anthracene

Abstract

The application of known methodology has provided 2,3-dimethylidene-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin (12) as the essential precursor for preparation of the cyclopropa-fused dibenzodioxin 3,8-dioxa-1H-cyclopropa [b] anthracene (14). Cycloproparene (14) is both unstable and acid-sensitive, and readily dimerizes to a mixture of the dihydrotetraoxaheptacene (15) and its heptaphene analogue (16).