Selective O-Demethylation of 5,8-Dihydroxy-2,3-Dimethoxy-6-Methylnaphtho-1,4-Quinone: The Crystal Structures of 5,8-Dihydroxy-2,3-Dimethoxy-6-Methylnaphtho-1,4-Quinone and 2,5,8-Triacetoxy-3-Methoxy-6-Methylnaphtho-1,4-Quinone

Abstract

It has been confirmed that treatment of 5,8-dihydroxy-2,3-dimethoxy-6-methylnaphtho-1,4- quinone (1) with dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide leads to selective O- demethylation. The hydrolysis product has been identified as 2,5,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methylnaphtho1,4- quinone (3) from the crystal structure of the corresponding triacetate (4).

The crystal structures of 5,8-dihydroxy-2,3-dimethoxy-6-methylnaphtho-1,4-quinone (1) and 2,5,8-triacetoxy-3-methoxy-6-methylnaphtho-1,4-quinone (4) were determined by X-ray diffraction; diffractometer data at 295 K were refined by least squares techniques to residuals of 0.074 (583 'observed' reflections) for (1) and 0.049 (2005) for (4). Crystals of (1) are monoclinic, P2_l/c, a 3.873(4), b 20.21(1), c 15.OO(2) Å, β 96.05(6)º, Z 4. Crystals of (4) are also monoclinic, P2_l/c, a 10.532(5), b 14.596(6), c 12.097(6) Å, β 109.74(4)º, Z 4.