9,10-Dihydroanthracene and 6,11-Dihydroaceanthrene Derivatives

Abstract

In the field of oxido-reductive transformations of 9, 10-halogenomethyl-9,10-dihydroanthracenes into anthracenes¹, the synthesis of 2,3,6,7-tetramethoxy-9,9-dimethyl-10-trichloromethyl-9,10-dihydroanthracene (IIa) from 3, 4,3′,4′-tetramethoxy-diphenyl-dimethylmethane (I) and chloral in conc. H₂SO₄ medium has been attempted. Such a reaction however gave 2,3,6,7-tetramethoxy-9,10-bis (trichloromethyl)-9,10-dihydroanthracene and an indenic compound whose formation was ascribed to an initial cleavage of (I)²: no trace of the expected product (IIa) was detected.