Carcinogenic nitrogen compounds. Part LIV. Some limitations to the Bernthsen synthesis of meso-substituted benzacridines

Abstract

The Bernthsen reaction of trialkylacetic acids with N-arylnaphthylamines leads to benzacridines having no substituent in the meso-position; further, an indirect limitation to the applicability of the Bernthsen synthesis is the impossibility of using the Knoevenagel method for preparing N-arylnaphthylamines bearing alkylthio groups, these being split off in the course of the reaction.