The title compounds, ,5'-diacetyl-2,2',3,3'-tetramethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl
, C20H22O6, and 5,5'-diacetyl-2,2'-diethoxy-3,3'- dimethoxy-1,1'-biphe
nyl (IUPAC nomenclature), C22H26O6, correspond to the 5,5'-biphenyl-ty
pe lignin model compound. They were synthesized from dehydrodiacetovan
illone by alkylation with CH3I and C2H5I, In the former compound, all
non-H atoms in the asymmetric unit are planar except for one C atom. I
n the latter compound, there are two molecules of different conformati
ons, one of which is affected by disorder.