Pyrene-4, 5-dione (3) has been used extensively to prepare and study its corresponding K- region oxide. 1 Arene oxides are the primary oxidative metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and consequently are of significant biological interest. 2 In addition, pyrene-4, 5-dione (3) participates in a variety of cyclization reactions useful for the construction of other molecules of interest. 3 The o-quinone 3 is much less readily available than related ...
