The present invention relates to polyacene derivatives represented by general formula (I) below:
1
(wherein R
1
to R
10
, etc. each represents hydrogen atom, hydrocarbon group, or an alkoxy group; A
1
and A
2
are hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, an alkoxy group, cyano group, etc.; n is an integer of not less than 1; R
6
and R
7
may be linked to each other to form a ring); and a process for preparing the polyacene derivatives from polyhydro compounds as well as electrically conductive materials comprising the polyacene derivatives. According to the process for preparing the polyacene derivatives of the present invention, optional substituents can be introduced into any carbon atoms of the polyacene, and the number of aromatic rings can be increased.
Reaction of substituted acenes such as anthracene, naphthacene, and pentacene derivatives with O 2 was dependent on the substituents and their positions. The orientation is in contrast to Diels-Alderreaction with DDQ in the case of naphthacene and pentacene derivatives. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-Octamethylanthracene reacted with O 2 to afford a doubly oxygenated compound (diendoperoxide) at both end rings.