Unusual Transformation of the Diarylmethanol Derivative into an Unknown 1,2,3,6,7,10-Hexahydroxylated Anthracene System

Abstract

10-Benzyloxy-1,2,3-trimethoxy-6,7-(methylene-1,3-dioxy)anthracene as a potential material for molecular electronics was synthesized from the O-benzyl-protected diarylmethanol derivative containing the 1,3-dioxyethylene acetal function via a one-pot procedure under acidic conditions (1 N HCl, methanol, 60 h) in 60% yield. The replacement of methanol for benzene resulted in hydrolysis of the acetal function in 96% yield.