Reaction of benzanthrone (7H-benz[d,e]anthracen-7-one) with nitrogen dioxide alone or in admixture with ozone. Implications for the atmospheric formation of genotoxic 3-nitrobenzanthrone

The reaction of benzanthrone (7H-benz[d,e]anthracen-7-one, 1) with nitrogen dioxide alone or in admixture with ozonized oxygen has been investigated in polar and nonpolar organic solvents at different temperatures. A remarkable change of product distribution was observed depending on the solvent employed; 3-nitrobenzanthrone (4) was the main product from the reaction in dichloromethane, while 2-nitrobenzanthrone was obtained as the major product in tetrachloromethane. Addition of protonic acid or inorganic solid support was found to promote the reaction, favoring the formation of the former nitro compound at the expense of the latter. All major products were identified. The variation of isomer distribution depending on the conditions employed has been discussed in terms of the competition between the homolytic and heterolytic mechanisms involved in the nitration of ketone 1. On the basis of the results obtained, the atmospheric formation of the genotoxic nitro ketone 4 has been briefly discussed.