1987 Volume 35 Issue 4 Pages 1599-1603
The 7-methoxyhydrophenanthrone (8) was synthesized from the 4a-nitromethylhydrophenanthrone (3) via nitration, reduction, and conversion of the resulting amino group to a methoxy group. On methylation of the intermediary phenol (7) with diazomethane, two products (9 and 10) were obtained along with the desired 8. The structures of these compounds having an aldoxime moiety were determined by physico-chemical methods. The mechanism of this unusual aldoxime formation from a nitromethyl group is discussed.