Photochromic dihetarylethenes. 14. Synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical dihetarylcyclobutene-1,2-diones

A procedure was developed for the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical cyclobutene-1,2-dione derivatives bearing thiophene and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene substituents by the Friedel—Crafts reaction of the corresponding heterocyclic compounds with squaric acid dichloride in the presence of AlCl₃. In addition to the target dihetarylcyclobutenediones, monoacylation products of methyl (2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)acetate and methyl 5-methylthieno[3,2-b]thiophene-2-carboxylate with squaric acid dichloride were isolated and characterized.