Photochemistry of anthracene in water

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)93543-3

Photolysis of anthracene (350 nm) in aerated water yields endoperoxide and 9,10-anthraquinone as the major primary photoproducts. Photolysis of anthracene in oxygen-deficient aqueous solutions yields the three isomers of 10,10'-dihydroxy-9,9',10,10'-tetrahydro-9,9'-bianthryl as the primary photoproduct. Involvement of a cation radical mechanism is suggested.