Abstract Derivatives of 9, 10-diphenylanthracene-2, 3-dicarboxylic acid were synthesized by the Diels-Alder reaction of 1, 3-diphenylisobenzofuran with adducts of furan (or silvan) and the corresponding maleic (fumaric) acid derivative or with trans-cyclohex-4-ene-1, 2- dicarbonitrile, followed by aromatization.