Abstract Synthetic Attempts towards [2.2]-and [2.3] Cyclopentadienophanes. The first [2.2] Cyclopentadienophane (= 2, 2, 3, 3, 8, 8, 9, 9-octamethyltricyclo [8.2. 1.1 4, 7] tetradecatetraene; 1b) has been synthesized (Scheme 5) by reductive coupling of 6, 6- dimethylfulvene 3 [RIGHTWARDS ARROW] 5 (50%) followed by base-induced twofold condensation of 1, 2-di (cyclopentadienyl)-1, 2-dimethylbutane 5 with acetone to give ...