It has been calculated2a, b that anellation of benzene rings to the system of heptafulvene (I) will first produce a hypsochromic effect which will change into a bathochromic one upon addition of even more rings. Furthermore, phenyl substitution at the exocyclic carbon atom of I will, on the one hand, increase the polarity of the semicyclic double bond, and, on the other hand, cause a hypsochromic shift. As the experimental results as yet have not borne out ...
