Synthesis of 1- and 2-Chloro-7 H -benz[ de ]anthr-7-one

Chloro-7 H -benz[ de ]anthr-7-ones (chlorobenzanthrones) are useful as starting materials for synthesis of larger polycyclic aromatic compounds by means of condensation. In the synthesis, the position of the chlorine atom is very important because the structure of condensation products strongly depends on it. For this reason, we have synthesized several chlorobenzanthrones. Although 3- and 4-chlorobenzanthrone were prepared by direct chlorination of benzanthrone and by glycerol condensation of 2-chloroanthraquinone, respectively, the synthesis of 1- and 2-chlorobenzanthrone has not yet been successful. In the present study, we attempted to synthesize them by use of the Sandmeyer reaction. First, we nitrated benzanthrone with nitric acid; 1- and 2-nitrobenzanthrone were obtained by nitration in nitrobenzene at 50-60° and in glacial acetic acid at 105-110°, respectively. Then the nitroderivatives were reduced to corresponding aminoderivatives; the reduction was performed with sodium sulfide for 1-nitrobenzanthrone and with hydrogen chloride and tin for 2-nitrobenzanthrone. Finally, chlorination was carried out by use of the Sandmeyer reaction. The products were separated and purified by column-chromatography. The position of chlorination was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy.