The photolysis of the sodium salt of 4,5-(9′,10′-dihydro-9′,10′-anthraceno)-2,4,6-cycloheptatrien -1-one (13) in THF or the reaction of KO -Bu with 1-chloro-4,5-(9′,10′dihydro-9′,10′-anthraceno )-1,3,5-cycloheptatriene (14) in THF produced triptycene (2) in up to 30 % yield. Neither 1-triptycenyl carbene (7) nor 2-triptycenyl carbene (5) formed triptycene. ... Triptycene (2) is found when 6 is generated from two different classical precursors. The generation of 1- and 2-triptycenyl ...