by Xiao-min Wang. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-88). / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Contents --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter I-l. --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter I-2. --- Evidence for Aromaticity --- p.2 / Chapter I-3. --- Source and Theories of Paramagnetic Ring Current --- p.4 / Chapter I-4. --- Nonplanar Structure of Cyclooctatetraene (COT) --- p.6 / Chapter I-5. --- Fully Conjugated Planar Eight-membered Ring Compounds --- p.8 / Chapter I-6. --- Stabilization of Cyclooctynes --- p.14 / Chapter I-7. --- The aim of present work --- p.20 / Chapter II. --- Results and Discussion --- p.22 / Chapter II-1. --- "Synthesis of 5,6-Didehydro-1,1,14,14-tetramethyl-10,11 -methano -lH-benzo[5,6]cycloocta[l,2,3,4-def]fluorene(48)" --- p.22 / Chapter II-2. --- "Synthesis of 5,6-Didehydro-10,l 1-methano -lH-benzo[5,6]cycloocta[l,2,3,4-def]fluorene-l,14-dione(49)" --- p.49 / Chapter II-3. --- "Attempted Synthesis of l,14-Bis(dicyanomethylene)-5,6- didehydro-10,11 -methano- 1H- benzo [5,6] cycloocta[ 1,2,3 A-def] fluorene (89) and l,14-Bis(N-cyanoiminyl)-5,6-didehydro- 10,11-methano-lH-benzo[5,6]cycloocta[l,2,3,4-def]fluorene (90)" --- p.56 / Chapter III. --- Conclusion --- p.59 / Chapter IV. --- Experimental --- p.60 / Chapter V. --- References --- p.82 / List of Spectra --- p.89 / Spectra --- p.91