1,8-BIS(HYDROXYMETHYL)ANTHRACENE

Anthracene-1,8-dimethanol, C16H14O2, crystallized in the centrosymmetr ic space group P2(1)/n. The anthracene core is nearly planar and shows good agreement with the anthracene core of anthracene-1,8-dicarboxyli c acid. The geometric disposition of the hydroxymethyl groups and the values of the hydrogen-bond parameters are strikingly similar to those in the naphthalene analog. As in that structure, each hydroxyl group participates both as a donor and acceptor in an infinite zigzag chain of hydrogen bonds which propagates along the [010] direction. Moreover , the disposition of the entire molecule in the cell of the present co mpound is also strikingly similar to that of the naphthalene analog in its cell.