Abstract The synthesis of the title compound 9 is described. Benz [a] anthracene 8, 9-oxide (6) was reacted with sodium azide in aqueous acetone and the trans-9-azido-8, 9- dihydrobenz [a] anthr-8-ol (7), so formed, was cyclized by tri-n-butylphosphine. Attempts to dehydrogenate 10, 11-dihydrobenz [a] anthracene 8, 9-imine (4) with DDQ or by allylic bromination followed by base assisted dehydrobromination was unsuccessful. The N-tosyl ...