6369. Naphthacene

Nomenclature

CAS number: 92-24-0
Tetracene; 2,3-benzanthracene; rubene; chrysogen.
C18H12; mol wt 228.29.
C 94.70%, H 5.30%.

Description and references

Occurs in coal tar. Contaminates commercial anthracene to which it imparts a yellow color. Isoln: Cook et al., Proc. R. Soc. London B111, 455 (1932). Isoln from crude anthracene by chromatography: Winterstein et al., Z. Physiol. Chem. 230, 159 (1934). Synthesis by condensing succinic acid and phthalic anhydride in the presence of sodium acetate: Gabriel, Michael, Ber. 10, 1559, 2207 (1877); 11, 1682 (1878); Roser, Ber. 17, 2744 (1884); Nathanson, Ber. 26, 2582 (1893); Gabriel, Leupold, Ber. 31, 1159, 1272 (1898); Wanag, Ber. 70, 274 (1937); from 1-naphthol and phthalic anhydride: Deichler, Weizmann, Ber. 36, 547, 719 (1903); DE 298345 (1916); from 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene and phthalic anhydride: Bentley et al., J. Chem. Soc. 91, 411, 1588 (1907); from tetralin and phthalic anhydride: Schroeter, Ber. 54, 2242 (1921); DE 346673 (1918); cf. Fieser, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 53, 2329 (1931). Other syntheses: Coulson, J. Chem. Soc. 1935, 77; Weizmann et al., ibid. 1939, 398.

Chemical structure

Properties

Orange leaflets from xylene. d 1.35. Sublimes in vacuo. mp 341° (open capillary tube), mp 357° (copper block). Absorption spectrum: Clar, Ber. 69, 607 (1936). Fluorescence maxima: Krishman, Seshan, Z. Kristallogr. 89, 538 (1934). Difficultly sol in most solvents. Solns show slight green fluorescence in daylight. Does not form a picrate.