Abstract In order to establish the effect of the annelation of benzene rings on [4n+2] annulenes, the syntheses of benzannelated dehydroannulenes were attempted. Dibenzo-tetrakisdehydro[ 18]annulenes (IIa and IIb) were prepared according to the reaction sequence developed in the synthesis of tetramethyltetrakisdehydro[18]annulene (I) from o-ethynylbenzaldehyde (VIII); both of them proved to be unstable. Tribenzo-bisdehydro[14]annulene (XVII) was also prepared from VIII by a double Wittig reaction, followed by oxidative coupling. An examination of the NMR spectrum indicated that XVII is atropic.