Synthesis, crystal structure and photoluminescence of 2,6-dimethylanthracene and its pseudo-triptycene derivatives

A simple one-step synthesis of 2,6-dimethylanthracene, 1, in high yield is reported utilizing the easily accessible benzyl alcohol as the starting material. Based on 2,6-dimethylanthracene, two pseudo-triptycene compounds, cis-2,6-dimethyl-9,10-dihydroanthracene-9,10-endo-α,β-succinic anhydride, 2, and cis-2,6-dimethyl-9,10-dihydroanthracene-9,10-endo-α,β-succinyl amine, 3, are firstly synthesized in high yield and they are characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 2 crystallizes in triclinic P1¯ space group and compound 3 crystallizes in monoclinic P21/c space group. Both compound 2 and 3 exhibit cis-configurations and endo-conformations. Compound 1 exhibits very intense photoluminescence property due to the delocalized electron in the whole molecule, whereas fluorescence quench happens to some extents due to the destruction of the conjugated structure in compound 2.