UV VIS AND FLUORESCENCE STUDY ON ANTHRALIN AND ITS ALKYLATED DERIVATIVES/

Anthralin 1 and some of its C-10 or O-alkylated derivatives were inves tigated by UV/VIS- and fluorescence spectroscopy in different solvents and buffer systems, respectively. The effects of substituents on the formation of anthralin anion as well as the constitution of the result ing anions confirm that C-H acidity at position 10 is necessary for th e formation of a fully aromatic anionic form. It is concluded that the resulting anion la is the pharmacologically active species of the ant ipsoriatic anthralin. Tautomerism of the neutral molecule is not obser vable. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.