Synthesis and crystal structures of two purpurin derivatives: 1,4-dihydroxy-2-propoxyanthraquinone and 2-butoxy-1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone

Abstract

The title compounds were obtained by deprotonation of 1,2,4-trihydroxyanthraquinone (purpurin) using sodium hydride followed by reaction with either 1-bromopropane or 1-bromobutane. 1,4-Dihydroxy-2-propoxyanthraquinone crystallizes as a 1:1 solvate from acetonitrile, C17H14O5·CH3CN. The anthraquinone core of the molecule is essentially planar and both hydroxy groups participate in intramolecular O—H...O (carbonyl) hydrogen bonds. The propyl chain is angled slightly above the plane of the anthraquinone moiety with a maximum deviation of 0.247 (2) Å above the plane for the terminal carbon atom. In contrast, 2-butoxy-1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone, C18H16O5, crystallizes from nitromethane with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. The anthraquinone core of each independent molecule is essentially planar and both hydroxy groups on both molecules participate in intramolecular O—H...O(carbonyl) hydrogen bonds. The butyl chain in one molecule is also angled slightly above the plane of the anthraquinone moiety, with a maximum deviation of 0.833 (5) Å above the plane for the terminal carbon atom. In contrast, the butyl group on the second molecule is twisted out of the plane of the anthraquinone core with a torsion angle of 65.1 (3)°, resulting in a maximum deviation of 1.631 (5) Å above the plane for the terminal carbon atom.