Flash Communication: Mechanochemical Synthesis of Magnesium Anthracenes

Dawid J. Babula; Nicholas J. Evans; Ross A. Jackson; Nicolas E. Mortreuil; Lewis G. Parker; Matthew P. Stevens; David J. Liptrot

doi:10.1021/acs.organomet.6c00107

Flash Communication: Mechanochemical Synthesis of Magnesium Anthracenes

Dawid J. Babula
, Nicholas J. Evans
, Ross A. Jackson
, Nicolas E. Mortreuil
, Lewis G. Parker
, Matthew P. Stevens
, David J. Liptrot

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Reaction of unactivated magnesium turnings, anthracene derivatives, and tetrahydrofuran for 1 h in a mixer mill (30 Hz) under argon provided convenient access to four magnesium anthracenes as their tris-THF complexes. Magnesium anthracene·THF₃, magnesium 9-methylanthracene·THF₃, magnesium 9,10-dimethylanthracene·THF₃, and magnesium 9-phenylanthracene·THF₃ were synthesized in good yields (83% (±1.2%), 85% (±0.5%), 85% (±0.8), and 87% (±1.1%), respectively). Analysis of these species by IR and NMR spectroscopy shows data consistent with material synthesized in solution.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1469-1472
Number of pages	4
Journal	Organometallics
Volume	45
Issue number	13
Early online date	25 Jun 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.6c00107
Publication status	Published - 13 Jul 2026

Acknowledgements

DJL thanks the Royal Society for a University Research Fellowship. This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant number EP/ X040453/1]. We thank Dr John Lowe for assistance with NMR spectroscopy.

Funding

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EP/X040453/1 Royal Society URF\R\241010

Funders	Funder number
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council	EP/X040453/1
Royal Society	URF\R\241010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry

Access to Document

10.1021/acs.organomet.6c00107Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{59b7d9eade0e4072bcbf69379d4ecc72,

title = "Flash Communication: Mechanochemical Synthesis of Magnesium Anthracenes",

abstract = "Reaction of unactivated magnesium turnings, anthracene derivatives, and tetrahydrofuran for 1 h in a mixer mill (30 Hz) under argon provided convenient access to four magnesium anthracenes as their tris-THF complexes. Magnesium anthracene·THF3, magnesium 9-methylanthracene·THF3, magnesium 9,10-dimethylanthracene·THF3, and magnesium 9-phenylanthracene·THF3 were synthesized in good yields (83\% (±1.2\%), 85\% (±0.5\%), 85\% (±0.8), and 87\% (±1.1\%), respectively). Analysis of these species by IR and NMR spectroscopy shows data consistent with material synthesized in solution.",

author = "Babula, \{Dawid J.\} and Evans, \{Nicholas J.\} and Jackson, \{Ross A.\} and Mortreuil, \{Nicolas E.\} and Parker, \{Lewis G.\} and Stevens, \{Matthew P.\} and Liptrot, \{David J.\}",

year = "2026",

month = jul,

day = "13",

doi = "10.1021/acs.organomet.6c00107",

language = "English",

volume = "45",

pages = "1469--1472",

journal = "Organometallics",

issn = "0276-7333",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "13",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Flash Communication

T2 - Mechanochemical Synthesis of Magnesium Anthracenes

AU - Babula, Dawid J.

AU - Evans, Nicholas J.

AU - Jackson, Ross A.

AU - Mortreuil, Nicolas E.

AU - Parker, Lewis G.

AU - Stevens, Matthew P.

AU - Liptrot, David J.

PY - 2026/7/13

Y1 - 2026/7/13

N2 - Reaction of unactivated magnesium turnings, anthracene derivatives, and tetrahydrofuran for 1 h in a mixer mill (30 Hz) under argon provided convenient access to four magnesium anthracenes as their tris-THF complexes. Magnesium anthracene·THF3, magnesium 9-methylanthracene·THF3, magnesium 9,10-dimethylanthracene·THF3, and magnesium 9-phenylanthracene·THF3 were synthesized in good yields (83% (±1.2%), 85% (±0.5%), 85% (±0.8), and 87% (±1.1%), respectively). Analysis of these species by IR and NMR spectroscopy shows data consistent with material synthesized in solution.

AB - Reaction of unactivated magnesium turnings, anthracene derivatives, and tetrahydrofuran for 1 h in a mixer mill (30 Hz) under argon provided convenient access to four magnesium anthracenes as their tris-THF complexes. Magnesium anthracene·THF3, magnesium 9-methylanthracene·THF3, magnesium 9,10-dimethylanthracene·THF3, and magnesium 9-phenylanthracene·THF3 were synthesized in good yields (83% (±1.2%), 85% (±0.5%), 85% (±0.8), and 87% (±1.1%), respectively). Analysis of these species by IR and NMR spectroscopy shows data consistent with material synthesized in solution.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105044997713

U2 - 10.1021/acs.organomet.6c00107

DO - 10.1021/acs.organomet.6c00107

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105044997713

SN - 0276-7333

VL - 45

SP - 1469

EP - 1472

JO - Organometallics

JF - Organometallics

IS - 13

ER -

Flash Communication: Mechanochemical Synthesis of Magnesium Anthracenes

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this