Octaalkyl tetracene-1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10-octacarboxylates: synthesis by twofold [2+2+2] cocyclization and crystallochromy

Tetracene octaesters, which were prepared by twofold [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclization, were isolated as red, orange, and orange-yellow solids for the methyl, ethyl, and propyl ester derivatives, respectively. X-Ray crystallographic analysis reveals that the difference in solid-state color arises owing to differences in molecular packing.