Synthesis of 5,12-diazadibenz[a,h]anthracene

5, 12-Diazadibenz[a,h]anthracene ( 20 ) was synthesized in 21% overall yield for seven steps. Salient features of the synthesis include the initial, one-step conversion of trans, trans-1,4-bis-(β-nitrovinyl)benzene into 2,2″-dinitro-p-terphenyl by Diels-Alder condensation plus elimination, monocyclization of the derived 2,2″-diformylamino-p-terphenyl to give 8-(2-amino-1-phenyl)-phenanthridine ( 10 ) in the presence of fortified polyphosphoric acid, and accomplishment of a second cyclization step only after reduction of the heteroring in 10 (by means of diisobutyl-aluminum hydride) plus formylation. The 6-methyl and 6,13-dimethyl derivatives of 20 were prepared similarly.