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Alan Bloom

Why does oxidation occur at the 9,10 position of anthracene?

Bob Mouk  Follow
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Charles Tivendale  Follow

Lets start with resonance energy:

Resonance energy of benzene = 36 kcal mol-1

Resonance energy of the 2 ring system naphthalene = 61 kcal mol-1 (or 30.5/ring)

Resonance energy of the 3 ring systel anthracene = 84 kcal mol-1 (or 28/ring)


In the oxidation of anthracene forming anthraquinone you would leave 2 separate benzene rings intact (at first approximation this would give 72 kcal mol-1 of resonance energy. )

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