Synthesis of a photochromic bisphenoxynaphthacenequinone compound by two-step method

A new photochromic bisphenoxynaphthacenequinone compound, 6,6'-[1-methylethylidenebis (4,1-phenyleneoxy)]bis (5,12-naphthacenequinone) (1), was synthesized by a two-step method, i.e., synthesis of 6-[4-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)isopropyl) phenoxy]-5, 12-naphthacenequinone (2) from 6-chloro-5, 12-naphthacenequinone (3) and bisphenol-A, and a further reaction of compound 2 in DMF/acetone mixed solvent in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate and potassium iodide. The crude product is obtained in a precipitate form and can easily be purified by recrystallization. The solvent composition has marked influence on the yield of the precipitated crude product in the second step.