Phenalene Explained

1H-Phenalene, often called simply phenalene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Like many PAHs, it is an atmospheric pollutant formed during the combustion of fossil fuels.^[1] It is the parent compound for the phosphorus-containing phosphaphenalenes.

The name was proposed by German chemists in 1922 as a contraction of periphenonaphthalene.^[2]

Reactions

Phenalene is deprotonated by potassium methoxide to give the phenalenyl anion.^[3]

See also

• Zethrene
• Cyclopentadiene

Notes and References

1. Gao H, Ma MQ, Zhou L, Jia RP, Chen XG, Hu ZD . Interaction of DNA with aromatic hydrocarbons fraction in atmospheric particulates of Xigu District of Lanzhou, China . J Environ Sci (China) . 19 . 8 . 948–54 . 2007 . 17966851 . 10.1016/S1001-0742(07)60156-9. 2007JEnvS..19..948G .
2. Investigations and Ring Closures in the Series of the Methylnaphthalenes . Journal of the Chemical Society . Fritz Mayer and Adolf Sieglitz . 1922 . 122 . 1–2 .
3. Reid. D. H.. 1965-01-01. The chemistry of the phenalenes. Quarterly Reviews, Chemical Society. en. 19. 3. 274. 10.1039/qr9651900274. 0009-2681.