Dehydrogenation of a series of mono-and di-tert-butyldihydroanthracenes is investigated as a potential synthetic route to the corresponding tert-butylanthracenes. Synthesis of 1-and 2- tert-butylanthracene is accomplished through dehydrogenation with DDQ and o-chloranil, respectively. Dehydrogenations with the reagent trityl trifluoroacetate generated in situ from trityl alcohol in trifluoroacetic acid lead to rearrangement and disproportionation to afford ...
