Abstract. The sulfodeprotonation of trans-lOb,l Oc-dimethyl-lob, I0c-dihydropyrene (1) with sulfur trioxide has been studied in dioxane as solvent, as well as in dichloromethane, using 4.0-5.0 equivalents of dioxane relative to the amount of SO, as reactivity moderator. Reaction of 1 with 0.6 mol-equiv. of SO, in dioxane at 22°C yields initially only the 2-and 4-sulfonic acid in a 84/ 16 ratio. Using 3.0-6.0 mol-equiv. of SO, in dichloromethane with the temperature increasing from -78 up to 22°C the initially very rapid formation of the 1 -, 2-and 4-sulfonic acid (formed in a ratio of I I /82/7) is followed by a much slower conversion into a mixture of l,7-, 2,4-, 2,5-and 2,7-disulfonic acid. These four acids are subsequently converted even more slowly into a mixture of the I ,4,7-, 2,4,7-and 2,5,9-trisulfonic acids to yield in part the I ,4,7,9-, 2,4,7,9-and 2,4,7,IO-tetrasulfonic acids. trans-2,7-Di-tert-butyl-1 Ob, I0c-dimethyl-1 Ob, 1 Oc-dihydropyrene (2) with 0.8-2.0 equiv. of SO, in dioxane as solvent gives the Csulfonic acid which is slowly converted into a 16/84 mixture of the 4,9-and 4,lO-disulfonic acids. The observed distributions of sulfonic acid isomers are discussed in terms of the directing effects of the "ideal" -almost planar -[ 141 annulene and the sulfo and/or tert-butyl substituent(s) already present.