Anthracene-1,4,9,10-tetraone

Abstract

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C14H6O4, contains three independent molecules (A, B and C). In molecule C, there are two disordered sets of two carbonyl O atoms [occupancies = 0.643 (11) and 0.357 (11)]. All three molecules are non-planar due to repulsion between two O atoms in peri positions on the anthracene ring, showing a slight difference in deviation of the carbonyl O atoms. The intramolecular distances between the two nearest O atoms are in the range of 2.685 (10)–2.766 (10) Å. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O and π–π [centroid–centroid distances = 3.615 (2), 3.844 (2) and 3.921 (2) Å] interactions, which lead to the formation of a herringbone-like arrangement.