Formation and amination of dibenz[b,f,-1]azapen-talene dianion: Attempted synthesis of dibenz[b,f,-1]azapentalene

Dibenzb, f,-1]azapentalene dianion (3) was allowed to react with N,N diethyl - O - mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine (4) in order to obtain N,N - diethyl - 5,10 - dihydroindeno1,2 - b] - indol - 10 - amine (11). The available data indicated that electron transfer processes were involved in the formation of 11. Attempts to obtain dibenzb, f,-1]azapentalene (1) and 11 by Hofman elimination or by the reaction of 11 with trifluoroacetic acid were unsuccessful.