Results Our requirement for 5, 8-dialky1-1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12-octa-hydrodibenzo [b, j][l, lO] phenanthrolines as synthetic intermediates and potentially useful ligands led to the strategy outlined in Scheme 11. Facile entry to the dibenzo [bj][1, lOlphenanthroline ring system is provided by Conrad-Limpach condensation of o-phenylenediamine with ethyl l- oxocyclohexane-2-carboxylate, as described by Ege and F re~ nd.~ We have found that ...