Synthesis of 2,3,7,8-tetramethyldibenzofuran

3,4,3,4-Tetramethyldiphenyl ether readily forms 2,2-dihalo derivatives on bromination and iodination. Heating 2,2-diiodo-4,5,4,5-tetramethyldiphenyl ether with copper powder or oxidation, of 2,2-dilithio-4,5,4,5-tetramethyldiphenyl ether gives 2,3,7,8-tetramethyldibenzofuran, the structure of which was proved by alternative synthesis from 2,2-dinitroand 2,2-diamino-4,5,4,5-tetramethyldiphenyls.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1597–1599, December, 1972.