Abstract
The main object of this thesis is "Studies in the Biphenylene Series" with reference to the fine structure and substitution
reactions. It is not unnatural that the chemistry of the closely
related compounds, biphenyl and fluorene, have been touched upon
in the course of this work and for this reason the introduction
treats each of these compounds, and their relevant reactions,
separately.
Tribute must be paid to Wilson Baker and J.F.W. McOmie at
Bristol for their pioneering work in the biphenylene field and
it is due to the large amount of fine work done by them and
their colleagues that biphenylene to-day Is no longer the
chemical curiosity it was three years ago but a normal aromatic
hydrocarbon, whose properties and reactions have been studied
to an extent comparable to naphthalene or fluorene.
The last comprehensive review, however, to appear on this
subject was written by McOmie and published in Oinsburgfs
"Non-Bensenoid .Aromatic Hydrocarbons" in 1957. It was
essentially a synopsis of this that Holier gave as a dissertation
to the Chemical Society the following year. Since then
E. Clar has brought this up to date in his excellent "Polycyclic Hydrocarbons" but it was beyond the scope of this work
to Include anything more than the most important reactions.
