SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURE OF NEW FAMILIES OF POTENTIAL ANTITUMOR OR ANTIVIRAL AGENTS .1. 4B,6A,10B,10C-TETRAHYDROBENZO[3,4]-CYCLOBUTA[1,2-A]BIPHENYLENE-4B,6A-DIYL DIACETATE

The bent triphenylene derivative 4b,6a,10b,10c-tetrahy-drobenzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2-a]biphenylene-4b,6a-diyl diacetate was prepared during the course of research into the synthesis of aromatic polycyclic derivatives showing antitumor or antiviral activity, and its structure determined by X-ray diffraction. The two benzocyclobutene groups are anti across the central cyclohexene ring; the acetoxy groups are anti to each other and cis to the benzocyclobutene groups. The geometry of the pentacyclic system is discussed and the factors determining the orientation of the acetoxy substituents are considered. The results of the refinements on F and F2 are compared.