Tandem Oxidative Dearomatizations of Diphenylanthracene Atropisomers.

The first examples of tandem oxidative dearomatizations of 9,10-diphenylanthracene atropisomers with ,'- formyl substituents are presented. In the presence of KMnO, their stereoselective tandem double oxidation and spirocyclization mainly afford the or dearomatized 9,10-diphthalide anthracenes. Using Pinnick's reagent and depending on the conditions, the oxidation can mainly lead to the corresponding or diacids in good yields or to three oxidation products.

Chiral Anthranyl Trifluoromethyl Alcohols: Structures, Oxidative Dearomatization and Chiroptical Properties.

Chiral trifluoromethyl alcohol groups were introduced at the hindered ortho positions of 9,10-diphenylanthracenes to investigate their effects on the physical properties and reactivity towards oxidative dearomatization. In such compact structures, the position in different quadrants and the preferred orientation of the -CH(OH)CF groups were determined by the relative and absolute configurations of each stereoisomer, respectively. As a consequence, the stereochemistry governs the organization of the H-bonded molecules in single crystals (homochiral dimers vs ribbon), whereas in chlorinated solvents, they all behave as discrete compounds.