Synthesis of cyclododeciptycene quinones

The first synthesis of two substituted cyclododeciptycene tetraquinones via a sequence of intermolecular and intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions from cis,cis-heptiptycene tetraquinone and substituted 7,16-dihydro-7,16-(o-benzeno)heptacenes is reported. The general synthetic sequence of cyclododeciptycene would facilitate the incorporation of various alkoxy and acetoxy substituents appended to the cycloiptycene framework.