Abstract: A method for the chemical storage of radiant energy in which substituted naphthalenes undergo photochemical dimerization by exposure to radiant energy to form 1,2,2a,7,8,12b-hexahydro-1,8,2,7-ethanedihylidenedibenzo[a,e]cyclobuta[c]c yclooctenes, which on heating, revert to the original naphthalenes with the release of heat.

Abstract: A system for the chemical storage of radiant energy in which either:A. 1,8-diaryl-1a,2,7,7a-tetrahydro-1,2,7-metheno-1H-cyclopropa[b]naphthalenes (1) are converted on heating to 1,2-diaryl-2a,8b-dihydrocyclobuta[a]naphthalenes (2) or 8,9-diaryl-benzocyclooctatetraenes (3), with the release of heat; and exposure of either compounds (3) or compounds (2) to suitable radiation results in the photochemical synthesis of compounds (1); orB. substituted naphthalenes undergo photochemical dimerization to form 1,2,2a,7,8,12b-hexahydro-1,8,2,7-ethanedihylidenedibenzo[a,e]cyclobuta[c]c yclooctenes. On heating, the latter revert to the original naphthalenes with the release of heat.