Conformational flexibility of fused tetracenedione propellers obtained from one-pot reductive dimerization of acetylenic quinones

J Org Chem. 2015 Feb 6;80(3):1618-31. doi: 10.1021/jo502543b. Epub 2015 Jan 27.

Abstract

Reductive dimerization of acetylenic anthraquinones provides synthetic access to flexible nonplanar polyaromatics with a tetracenedione core. In solution, these nonplanar, contorted polycycles exist as equilibrating mixtures of two symmetric conformers. The fused tetracenediones are easily reduced and exhibit rich electrochemical behavior.