Formula C12H10 Boiling point 279 °C | Density 1.02 g/cm³ | |
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Appearance White or pale yellow crystalline powder | ||
Acenaphthene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) consisting of naphthalene with an ethylene bridge connecting positions 1 and 8. It is a colourless solid. Coal tar consists of about 0.3% of this compound.
Contents
Production and reactions
Acenaphthene was prepared the first time from coal tar by Marcellin Berthelot. Later Berthelot and Bardy synthesized the compound by cyclization of α-ethylnaphthalene. Industrially, it is still obtained from coal tar together with its derivative acenaphthylene (and many other compounds).
Like other arenes, acenaphthene forms complexes with low valent metal centers. One example is (η6-acenaphthene)Mn(CO)3]+. Chemical reduction affords the radical anion sodium acenaphthylenide, which is used as a strong reductant (E = -1.75 V vs NHE).
Uses
It is used on a large scale to prepare naphthalene dicarboxylic anhydride, which is a precursor to dyes and optical brighteners. Naphthalene dicarboxylic anhydride is the precursor to perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, precursor to several commercial pigments and dyes.
