Synthesis of bisimines of pyrene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene

The preparation of 3b,4a,7b,8a-tetrahydro-4H,8H-pyreno[4,5-b:9,10-b']bisazirine and of 1a,6b,7a,12b-tetrahydro-1H,7H-dibenz[3,4:7,8]anthra[1,2-b:5,6-b']bisazirine is described. The corresponding diepoxides were reacted with sodium azide in aqueous acetone and the mixtures of trans-azido alcohols, so formed, were cyclized by tri-n-butylphosphine.