Two diaryl acetylenedicarboxylates 1 a, b have been prepared in moderate yields by direct reaction of acetylenedicarboxylic acid with the corresponding phenols catalyzed by sulfuric or p-toluenesulfonic acids and also through acetylenedicarbonyl chloride. The accompanying by-products have been characterized. Attempted esterification using N, N′- dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as condensing agent gives an asymmetric ester amide 11a and ...
