Meyers modification of the

In 1964, Paquette reported that although the 9,10-double bond of simple phenanthrenes can be formed using the Ramberg-Backlund reaction (NaOH in aqueous dioxane), the sterically crowded 4,5-dimethyl-phenanthrene cannot be made by this method. Staab has now shown that the highly strained proton sponge 4,5-bis(dimethylamino)phenanthrene (15) can be prepared using Meyers modification of the re-... 

---