2 subsequent reductive elimination made bromine the more attractive choice. Synthesis of 2 was therefore undertaken as shown in Scheme I. Dewar benzene 33-5 was prepared by vapor-phase irradiation in 90% yield and, because of its tendency to detonate capriciously as a neat liquid, handled subsequently in solution only. It was brominated in trichlorofluoromethane (Freon 11) solution to give in 98% yield a 2: l mixture of cis-and tr~ ...