The formation of arynes by reaction of potassium t-butoxide with aryl halides

Potassium t-butoxide reacts with aryl halides in an inert solvent or in the absence of solvent to give arynes in good yield, as indicated by the isolation of mixtures of aryl t-butyl ethers, the isomeric compositions of which have been determined, or, in the case of reactions carried out with added anthracene, of substituted triptycenes.