Synthesis and physical properties of 6,12-diarylazuleno[1,2-b]azulenes

The structure of a minor dimer ($\text{2a}$) of 1-arylcycloheptatrienylidenethylene was determined by X-ray crystallography. Dehydration of $\text{2a}$ and $\text{2b}$ gave novel non-benzenoid aromatics---6,12-diarylazuleno[1,2-b]azulenes ($\text{3a}$ and $\text{3b}$), whose electronic and NMR spectral properties were reported.