An ESR study of thermal and photo-induced formation of radicals from anthralin and acylated derivatives

Abstract

Radicals of anthralin and some anthralin derivatives generated either by thermolysis or photolysis in degassed xylene have been monitored by use of ESR spectroscopy. Thermolysis or photolysis of either anthralin or anthralin 10,10′-dehydrodimer generates the 1,8-dihydroxy-9-anthron-10-yl radical. Radical reactions are only observed during thermolysis of C-10 acyl-derivatives or during photolysis of the 1,8-diacyl derivatives. Differences in reactivity of the C-10 methylene group of the various derivatives are discussed.