Abstract: The 1, 2, 3, 4-and 1, 2, 3, 8-tetramethylcyclooctatetraenes as well as the higher homologous 1, 2, 3, 4, 6-and 1, 2, 3, 5, 8-pentamethyl derivatives have been prepared conveniently in isomerically pure form by procedures which hold promise of con-siderable generality. One scheme consists in elaboration of a suitably substituted 8-thiabicyclo [4.3. 0] non-3-ene dioxide, its alkylative desulfonylation with ring contraction to introduce a 1, 2- ...
