1,2-Dialkoxyacenaphthylenes and 2,3,11,12-bis-(1,2-acenaphtho)-[18]crown-6

A general synthesis of 1,2-dialkoxyacenaphthylenes by dehydrogenation of the corresponding acenaphthene derivatives with high potential quinones is described. The new crown ether, 2,3,11,12-bis(1,2-acenaphtho)-[18]crown-6, 1, is obtained by this route. The surprisingly poor complexing ability of 1 is ascribed to electronic and geometrical effects of the acenaphthylene rings as shown by spectroscopic and voltammetric data and the crystal structure of the free ligand 1.