9,10-disilylanthracene; Synthesis, structure and fluorescence

For the preparation of the title compound, 9,10-dilithiumanthracene is treated with p-anisylchlorosilane to give 9,10-bis(p-anisylsilyl)anthracene (1) with high yields. The protodearylation of 1 with two equivalents of triflic acid affords 9,10-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonatosilyl)anthracene, which can be converted into 9,10-disilylanthracene (2) using LiAlH4. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Solutions of 1 and 2 in common organic solvents show a violet fluorescence. The fluorescence spectra are compared with data on anthracene and 9,10-disubstituted derivatives.