When 8-methoxy [2.2] metacyclophanes are treated with iodine in boiling benzene, the corresponding tetrahydropyrenes (8) are obtained in good yield. The AlCl,-catalyzed trans- tert-butylation of 8 effected loss of the tert-butyl group to give loa-c, which were easily dehydrogenated with DDQ to afford the corresponding pyrene derivatives.