The synthesis of 4, 4, 9, 9-tetramethyl [12] paracyclophane-5, 6, 7, 8-tetrone (26) has been achieved in a multistep procedure. Compound 26 is the fist cyclic tetraketone whose structure has been studied by X-ray analysis. The key intermediates were 4, 4, 9, 9- tetramethyl [12] paracyclophane-6, 7-dione (22), 6, 7-bis [(trimethylsilyl) oxy]-4, 4, 9, 9- tetramethyl [12] paracyclophane-5, 7-diene (241, and two epimeric 5, 8-dihydroxy-4, 4, 9, ...