Cyclic amidines. Part 26. The reported syntheses of 7-anilino-6-aryl-5,12-diazabenz[a]anthracenes are reinvestigated and their correct structures identified

Abstract

The reaction between aryl methyl ketones and triphenylguanidine reported to yield 7-anilino-6-aryl-5,12-diazabenz[a]anthracenes is reviewed. With anomalies in the reported data for some intermediates in this reaction, we propose and synthesise possible alternative structures for the title compounds and conclude that the reaction produces 6-anilino-7-aryl-5,12-diazabenz[a]anthracenes.