Synthesis of 1,8-dihydroxy-9,10-dihydroanthracene

1, 8-Dihydroxy-9, 10-dihydroanthracene has a strong potential as the intermediate in the synthesis of organic opto-electronic materials. It was synthesized from 1, 8-dihydroxy-9, 10-anthraquinone by the methylation, reduction (zinc/acetic acid, sodium/ethanol) and demethylation. The total yield was 37%. The reduction of 1, 8-dimethoxy-9, 10-anthraquinone with sodium borohydride/trifluroacetic acid generated novel anthrone dimer, and its crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal data indicate that anthrone dimer adopts a less overlapped transoid conformation and the two methoxyl groups and carbonyl group exist in the different sides of the,dimer.