We prove that there does not exist a
![[72,36,16]](/images/tex/5693.gif)
doubly even code with an automorphism of order

. If such a code exists, it can be decomposed as a direct sum of two codes; one can be viewed as a self-dual
![[12,6,4]](/images/tex/5694.gif)
binary code and the other a self-dual
![[6,3,4]](/images/tex/5695.gif)
code over

. This is shown to be impossible.