Anthrone 97%

Anthrone is a tricyclic aromatic ketone with significant applications in analytical chemistry, particularly in carbohydrate analysis. Here's a more detailed description:

Chemical Structure and Properties:

• Chemical Formula: C₁₄H₁₀O
• Structure:
  • It consists of three fused benzene rings, with a ketone (C=O) group on the central ring.
  • It exhibits tautomerism, meaning it can exist in two interconvertible forms: the ketone form (anthrone) and the enol form (anthrol).
• Physical State: Yellowish crystalline solid.
• Melting Point: Approximately 156 °C
• Solubility: Insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents like ethanol, chloroform, and benzene.
• Reactivity: The ketone group makes it reactive towards various chemical reagents.

Applications:

• Carbohydrate Analysis:
  • The most prominent application of anthrone is in the anthrone test, a colorimetric assay for determining the presence and quantity of carbohydrates.
  • In this test, anthrone reacts with carbohydrates in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid, producing a blue-green color. The intensity of the color is proportional to the carbohydrate concentration.
• Analytical Reagent:
  • It is used as a reagent in various other analytical procedures.
• Organic Synthesis:
  • It can be used as an intermediate in organic synthesis.

Tautomerism:

• Anthrone-Anthrol Tautomerism:
  • The equilibrium between anthrone and anthrol is influenced by the solvent and temperature.
  • The enol form (anthrol) is often less stable than the ketone form (anthrone).

Key Characteristics:

• Its ability to react with carbohydrates in the presence of sulfuric acid is the basis for its use in the anthrone test.
• The tautomerism it displays is a key chemical property.
• It is a ketone.

In essence, anthrone is a valuable analytical reagent, particularly for carbohydrate determination, and its chemical properties are central to its applications.