Reactions of cyclo-octatetraene and its derivatives - X: 1,2,3,8-Tetraphenylcyclo-octatetraene and 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylcyclo-octa-1,3,5-triene

The reaction of tetracyclone $\text{1b}$ with the cyclo-octatetraene-dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate adduct $\text{2}$ at $\text{ca}$. 110° produces, in addition to the $\text{exo}$4+2] Π cycloadduct $\text{3b}$ (49%), 1,2,3,8-tetraphenylcyclo-octatraene $\text{5}$ (11%), together with the diketone $\text{11}$ (5%). In a similar reaction with the esterified cyclo-octatetraene-maleic anhydride adduct $\text{13a}$, the major product $\text{14}$ (82%) is accompanied by the cyclohexa-1,3-diene $\text{15}$ and the dihydrosemibullvalene derivative $\text{16}$. Thermolysis of $\text{3b}$ at $\text{ca}$. 145° leads to the cyclobutene $\text{12}$., which on catalytic hydrogonation followed by decarbonylation at 180°–190° gives 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylcyclo-octa-1,3,5-triene $\text{19}$. Attempted thermal conversion of $\text{19}$ into a dihydrosemibullvalene failed.