The reaction of anthracyl-α-hydroxyphosphonate with anthracene: Facile Access to diverse (bis)-anthracylphosphonates as a suitable source for useful extensive π-conjugates
Molecular anthracene has been used as arene in the Friedel-Crafts (FC) type arylation reaction of anthracyl-α-hydroxyphosphonate in the presence of acid. A diverse product formation is observed, in which anthracene unit is found to be linked through its C1 position with α-C of phosphonate. Interestingly, the molecular conformation (X-ray structure) of this phosphonate reveals one of the bond angles of a tetrahedral carbon as 118o which is close to the C of sp 2 character. The attacks from C1, C2 or C9 nucleophilic center of molecular anthracene to C10 atom of 9-anthrylphosphonate are also recognized. The diverse molecular structures are established spectroscopically. The bis-anthracyl compounds with a P-CH2 unit have been successfully utilized in Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reactions to afford extensive bis-anthracyl-linked π-conjugates. Thus, the electronically different substituent is attached to the system by varying the aldehydes. Among all these π-conjugates, the compound with three anthracyl core is noticed as a weak AIEgen (Aggregation-Induced emission active fluorogen).