It seemed of interest for a number of reasons to synthesize 1', 9-methylene-l, 2- benzanthracene (111) and investigate its chemical properties and possible biological actions. Like the as yet unknown2 11, 9-dimethyl compound, the hydrocarbon may constitute a simplified model of the highly reactive and powerfully carcinogenic 3, 4-benzpyrene, and the presence of a methylene group at the meso position 9 may confer upon the substance ...