Cooperative C–H…N and C–H…π bonded molecular dimers of 5-aryl-7,8,13,14-tetrahydro-dibenzo[a,i]phenanthridine

Highly emissive, naked-eye solvatochromic probe based on styryl tetrahydrodibenzo[a,i]phenanthridine for acidochromic applications

A new series of 5-styryl tetrahydrodibenzo[a,i]phenanthridines was readily synthesized from β-tetralone, ammonium acetate and cinnamaldehydes and successfully applied to quantitatively detect pH in biological fluids and acid impurities in solvents.

3-(7,8,13,14-Tetra-hydrodi-benzo-[a,i]phen-an-thridin-5-yl)benzene-1,2-diol

In the title compound, C(27)H(21)NO(2), the half-chair conformation of the alicyclic rings gives rise to a slightly folded structure of the central tricyclic tetra-hydrophenanthridine unit. Tandem intra-molecular O-H⋯N and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds give rise to adjacent S(6) and S(5) rings, respectively, which dictate the conformation of the 5-aryl substituent. In the crystal structure, an inter-molecular C-H⋯O contact generates chains parallel to [101]. Short O-H⋯π and C-H⋯π contacts are also observed.