New synthesis of hexacene

Abstract

The reaction of 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-1,4(2H,3H)-dione with naphthalene-2,3-dicarbaldehyde gives 5,16-dihydroxyhexacene-6,15-quinone (2) in high yield. This compound can be converted into dihydrohexacene, and hence into hexacene, more efficiently than can similar compounds used in earlier syntheses of the polyacene. The use of copper(II) oxide in the dehydrogenation of dihydrohexacene is reported.