9,10-Dihydro-1,4-dimethoxy-5,8-dimethyl-cis-9,10-diphenyl-9,10-anthracenediol, a Crowded Planar 9,10-Dihydroanthracene

The crystal structure determination of the title compound, C₃₀H₂₈O₄, a key intermediate in the preparation of highly functionalized anthracenes, establishes the geometry at the central 9,10-positions to be cis. Owing to the buttressing effect of the methoxy and methyl goups in the peri-1,4,5,8-positions on the central 9,10-substituents, the 9,10-dihydroanthracene framework adopts a planar arrangement and the cis-9,10-phenyl groups assume a perpendicular conformation with regard to this plane.

-1