OCTAPHENYLNAPHTHALENE AND DECAPHENYLANTHRACENE

Octaphenylnaphthalene (2) was synthesized by the addition of tetraphen ylbenzyne to tetraphenylcyclopentadienone, and decaphenylanthracene (3 ) was synthesized by the addition of the same aryne to hexaphenylisobe nzofuran followed by deoxygenation of the adduct. The structures of bo th compounds were determined by X-ray analysis. Compound 2 adopts a co nformation of approximate C-i symmetry with a slightly undulating naph thalene nucleus, but compound 3 exhibits C-2 (and approximate D-2) sym metry with a 63 degrees twist of the central anthracene.