Chemistry of anthracene-acetylene oligomers XX: synthesis, structures, and self-association of anthracene-anthraquinone cyclic compounds with ethynylene linkers.

We have synthesized anthracene-acetylene oligomers, which contained one 10-substituted anthracene unit and one anthraquinone unit, by cyclization with Sonogashira coupling. X-ray analysis revealed an almost-planar framework and significant out-of-plane deformation around the inner carbonyl moiety because of steric hindrance. These compounds underwent self-association in solution and their association constants for monomer-dimer exchange were determined by variable-concentration (1)H NMR measurements in CDCl(3): 8 mol(-1) L (10-substituent: isopropyl), <5 mol(-1) L (methoxy), and 19 mol(-1) L (octyloxy). These results were discussed on the basis of spectroscopic and molecular-orbital analysis. A linear molecular assembly of the octyloxy compound at a liquid/graphite interface was observed by STM measurements.