Thermochemical and structural properties of anthraquinones

We have investigated the energetic, structural, and other physical–chemical properties (aromaticity, intrinsic strain, hydrogen bond interaction) of 1,4-anthraquinone (1), its better known isomer 9,10-anthraquinone (2) and the derivatives 9-hydroxy-1,4-anthraquinone (3) and 9-methoxy-1,4-anthraquinone (4). In particular, the standard enthalpy of formation in the gas phase at 298.15 K of 1,4-anthraquinone was determined $\Updelta_{\text{f}}^{{}} H_{\text{m}}^{\text{o}} \left( {{\text{g}},{\mathbf{1}}} \right) \, = \, - 4 4. 9 { } \pm { 5}. 7{\text{kJ}}{\text{mol}}^{ - 1} ]$ . Using isodesmic/homodesmotic reaction schemes, we have experimentally estimated: (i) the stabilization energy of 1 (162.2 ± 7.2 kJ mol^?1) and 2 (193.2 ± 5.2 kJ mol^?1), (ii) strength of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in 3 (HB = 79.8 ± 10.8 kJ mol^?1), and (iii) additional strain energy due to peri-oxygen interaction in 4 (?34.2 ± 7.6 kJ mol^?1). A computational study of these species, at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2p) level, sheds light on structural, aromatic, intrinsic strain, or hydrogen bond effects and further confirmed the consistency of the experimental results.