Biacetyl has been converted into a series of 3-(acyloxy)-3-buten-2-ones (13-17) which were characterized both spectroscopically and as their crystalline adducts with 1, 3- diphenylisobenzofuran. A comparative study has been made of the reaction of these dienophiles with three related transient anthraquinone-o-quinodimethanes (8) which are readily available from 2, 3-dimethylquinimin. The yield of tetracyclic adduct obtained is ...