In 3, 4, 9, 10-dibenzpyrene the 5-and 8-positions are identical and thus should both possess high reactivity. In accordance with expectations, we found that the hydrocarbon is oxidized to the 5, 8-quinone I1 by either chromic acid in acetic acid or selenium dioxide in nitrobenzene. The product of reaction with lead tetraacetate was shown to be the 5, 8-diacetoxy derivative VI by the preparation of an identical product by reductive acetylation of the quinone I1 and ...