Synthesis of new anthracene derivatives

An efficient synthesis is described for hexabromoanthracenes 3 and 4 by direct bromination of 9,10-dibromoanthrecene 2. Whereas base-induced elimination of hexabromide 3 with t-BuOK gave 2,3,9,10-tetrabromoanthracene 5, the reaction of hexabromide 4 with DBU afforded 1,3,9,10-tetrabromoanthracene 6 as the sole product. Tetrabromide 5 was also obtained by aromatization of 1,4-dinitroxy-2,3,9,10-tetrabromo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroanthracene 17. Efficient and convenient synthetic routes are described for the preparation of dinotroxy 17, dimethoxy 23, and dihydroxides 18 and 19 with silver-induced substitution of hexabromides 3 and 4. The hydroxy compounds 19 and 18 were converted to diepoxide 20 and monoepoxide 21, respectively, with sodium methoxide. Base-promoted aromatization of dimethoxide 23 afforded dibromomonomethoxides 26 and 27. Bromoanthracenes and isomeric arene oxides constitute valuable precursors for the preparation of functionalized substituted anthracene derivatives that are difficult to prepare by other routes.