TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preparation (claimed): A pentacene compound of formula (1) is oxidized and the oxidized compound of formula (2) is reacted with benzoquinone of formula (3) to obtain the pentacene quinone derivative, or a dimethoxypentacyclic compound of formula (4) is processed with an ether linkage disconnecting reagent to obtain a dicarbonyl compound of formula (5), and the compound (5) is aromatized in the presence of a dehydrogenation reagent to obtain the derivative (I).X1-X4=halo or cyano. Preferred Definitions:    A1-A4=functional group other than H;    R1-R4=H;and    R5,R6=optionally substituted alkynyl.    SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - 1,4,8,11-Tetrakis(trimethyl silyl)-6,13-pentacene quinone-2,3,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetramethyl ester of formula (A), 1,4,8,11-tetrakis(trimethyl silyl)-6,13-pentacene quinone-2,3,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetraethyl ester, 6,13-pentacene quinone-2,3,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetraethyl ester and 1,4,8,11-tetrabutyl-6,13-pentacene quinone-2,3,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetramethyl ester are disclosed as the derivative (I). 9 Derivatives (VII) are disclosed, e.g. 1,4,8,11-tetrakis(trimethyl silyl)-6,13-bis(phenyl ethynyl)pentacene-2,3,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetramethyl ester of formula (B), 6,13-bis(phenyl ethynyl)pentacene-2,3,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetramethyl ester, 1,4,8,11-tetrakis(trimethyl silyl)-6,13-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butynyl)pentacene-2,3,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetramethyl ester, 1,4,8,11-tetrakis(trimethyl silyl)-6,13-diphenyl pentacene-2,3,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetramethyl ester and 6,13-diphenyl pentacene-2,3,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetramethyl ester.    EXAMPLE - (In mg) 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (681) and toluene solution of 2,3,9,10-tetrakis(methoxycarbonyl)-5,7,12,14-tetrahydropentacene (802) were reacted to obtain an adduct. The adduct was reacted with gamma -terpinene to obtain 2,3,9,10-tetrakis(methoxycarbonyl)pentacene. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and purified to obtain 1,4,8,11-tetrakis(trimethyl silyl)-6,13-pentacene quinone-2,3,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetramethyl ester (227).