organic compounds\(\def\hfill{\hskip 5em}\def\hfil{\hskip 3em}\def\eqno#1{\hfil {#1}}\)

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4,4′-(Acridine-2,7-di­yl)bis­­(2-methyl­but-3-yn-2-ol)

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aCenter for Liberal Arts and Science, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180, Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama 939-0398, Japan, and bGraduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Tsukuba Research Center for, Interdisciplinary Materials Science (TIMS), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan
*Correspondence e-mail: [email protected]

Edited by I. Brito, University of Antofagasta, Chile (Received 16 October 2025; accepted 18 October 2025; online 31 October 2025)

The title acridine derivative, C23H21NO2, which has two 2-methyl­but-3-yn-2-ol moieties at the 2,7-positions, was synthesized by Sonogashira coupling reaction. In the crystal, a columnar structure is formed by the ππ stacking of acridine units. The 2-methyl­but-3-yn-2-ol moieties form inter­molecular hydrogen bonds.

3D view (loading...)
[Scheme 3D1]
Chemical scheme
[Scheme 1]

Structure description

Acridine is often used as a luminophore (Ryan et al., 1997View full citation) and DNA-inter­calator (Lerman, 1963View full citation). It is known to crystallize in seven polymorphic forms, in which various inter­molecular inter­actions, i.e., ππ, C—H–π, and C—H–N inter­actions, are observed (Mei & Wolf, 2004View full citation).

The title compound (Fig. 1[link]) was synthesized by the Sonogashira coupling reaction of 2,7-di­bromo­acridine with 2-methyl­but-3-yn-2-ol. The structure of the core acridine unit of the title compound is very similar to those of other 2,7-substituted acridine (Yamamura et al., 2015View full citation). All the bond lengths and angles in the acridine unit are in expected ranges. The C12 and C13 atoms in a triple bond are within the least-square plane of the acridine unit (Fig. 2[link]). In contrast, the C16 and C17 atoms in the other triple bond are separated from the plane. The distance of C16 from the plane is 0.179 (3) Å and that of C17 is 0.331 (3) Å.

[Figure 1]
Figure 1
Mol­ecular structure of the title compound with 50% probability ellipsoids.
[Figure 2]
Figure 2
Side view of mol­ecular structure. Terminal methyl and hy­droxy groups are omitted for clarify.

In the crystal, a columnar structure was observed due to the ππ stacking of acridine units (Fig. 3[link]). The distance between the least-square planes of the acridine units is 3.505  Å. The acridine unit is arranged in anti-fashion toward a neighbor acridine unit. Inter­molecular hydrogen bonds also link mol­ecules (Table 1[link]). Two hy­droxy groups of 1 form hydrogen bonds with two different mol­ecules, between which another mol­ecule is inserted.

Table 1
Hydrogen-bond geometry (Å, °)

D—H⋯A D—H H⋯A DA D—H⋯A
O1—H20⋯O2i 0.84 2.04 2.794 (4) 149
O2—H21⋯O1ii 0.84 1.94 2.735 (4) 158
Symmetry codes: (i) Mathematical equation; (ii) Mathematical equation.
[Figure 3]
Figure 3
Packing of the title compound

Synthesis and crystallization

A mixture of 2,7-di­bromo­acridine (Vlassa et al., 1995View full citation) (0.158 g, 47.0 mmol), 2-methyl­but-3-yn-2-ol (0.15 ml, 1.5 mmol), PdCl2(PPh3)2 (6.7 mg, 2 mol%), and CuI (1.6 mg, 2 mol%) were refluxed for 15 h in diiso­propyl­amine (45 ml). After evaporation, the residue was extracted with CH2Cl2 then washed with water. After evaporation, the crude products were separated by silica-gel column chromatography to give the yellow powder of the title compound in 43% yield. Yellow crystals suitable for X-ray analysis were obtained form a CHCl3/hexane solution.

1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.62 (s, 1H), 8.14 (d, J = 8.9 Hz, 2H), 8.09 (d, J = 1.7 Hz, 2H), 7.73 (dd, J = 1.7, 8.9 Hz, 2H), 2.08 (s, 2H), 1.70 (s, 12H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 149.1 (CH), 136.2 (C), 133.9 (CH), 132.3 (CH), 130.2 (CH), 127.1 (CH), 121.3 (C), 84.7 (C), 82.6 (C), 66.3 (C), 31.7 (CH3); Analysis calculated for C23H21NO2: C, 80.44; H, 6.16; N, 4.08; Found: C, 80.13; H, 5.99; N, 3.89.

Refinement

Crystal data, data collection and structure refinement details are summarized in Table 2[link].

Table 2
Experimental details

Crystal data
Chemical formula C23H21NO2
Mr 343.41
Crystal system, space group Monoclinic, P21/c
Temperature (K) 120
a, b, c (Å) 16.023 (13), 9.496 (7), 12.215 (10)
β (°) 99.646 (10)
V3) 1832 (2)
Z 4
Radiation type Mo Kα
μ (mm−1) 0.08
Crystal size (mm) 0.20 × 0.20 × 0.05
 
Data collection
Diffractometer Bruler APEXII CCD
Absorption correction Multi-scan (SADABS; Krause et al., 2015View full citation)
Tmin, Tmax 0.843, 0.915
No. of measured, independent and observed [I > 2σ(I)] reflections 10340, 3058, 1605
Rint 0.093
(sin θ/λ)max−1) 0.585
 
Refinement
R[F2 > 2σ(F2)], wR(F2), S 0.056, 0.122, 1.01
No. of reflections 3058
No. of parameters 241
H-atom treatment H-atom parameters constrained
Δρmax, Δρmin (e Å−3) 0.32, −0.28
Computer programs: APEX2 and SAINT (Bruker, 2014View full citation), SHELXT (Sheldrick, 2015aView full citation) , SHELXL2019/1 (Sheldrick, 2015bView full citation) and Mercury (Macrae et al., 2020View full citation).

Structural data


Computing details top

4,4'-(Acridine-2,7-diyl)bis(2-methylbut-3-yn-2-ol) top
Crystal data top
C23H21NO2F(000) = 728
Mr = 343.41Dx = 1.245 Mg m3
Monoclinic, P21/cMo Kα radiation, λ = 0.71073 Å
a = 16.023 (13) ÅCell parameters from 476 reflections
b = 9.496 (7) Åθ = 2.5–26.6°
c = 12.215 (10) ŵ = 0.08 mm1
β = 99.646 (10)°T = 120 K
V = 1832 (2) Å3Prism, colorless
Z = 40.20 × 0.20 × 0.05 mm
Data collection top
Bruler APEXII CCD
diffractometer
1605 reflections with I > 2σ(I)
Radiation source: fine-focus seald tubeRint = 0.093
φ and ω scanθmax = 24.6°, θmin = 1.3°
Absorption correction: multi-scan
(SADABS; Krause et al., 2015)
h = 1818
Tmin = 0.843, Tmax = 0.915k = 1111
10340 measured reflectionsl = 1411
3058 independent reflections
Refinement top
Refinement on F20 restraints
Least-squares matrix: fullHydrogen site location: inferred from neighbouring sites
R[F2 > 2σ(F2)] = 0.056H-atom parameters constrained
wR(F2) = 0.122 w = 1/[σ2(Fo2) + (0.030P)2 + 1.P]
where P = (Fo2 + 2Fc2)/3
S = 1.01(Δ/σ)max < 0.001
3058 reflectionsΔρmax = 0.32 e Å3
241 parametersΔρmin = 0.28 e Å3
Special details top

Geometry. All esds (except the esd in the dihedral angle between two l.s. planes) are estimated using the full covariance matrix. The cell esds are taken into account individually in the estimation of esds in distances, angles and torsion angles; correlations between esds in cell parameters are only used when they are defined by crystal symmetry. An approximate (isotropic) treatment of cell esds is used for estimating esds involving l.s. planes.

Fractional atomic coordinates and isotropic or equivalent isotropic displacement parameters (Å2) top
xyzUiso*/Ueq
O10.05976 (13)0.6608 (2)0.54622 (18)0.0336 (6)
H200.0462050.6324000.4805200.050*
O20.95459 (13)0.0895 (2)0.8478 (2)0.0391 (7)
H210.9365540.0166490.8750710.059*
N10.49494 (16)0.2007 (3)0.3889 (2)0.0259 (7)
C10.57022 (19)0.1892 (3)0.5807 (3)0.0222 (8)
C20.51585 (19)0.2890 (3)0.6130 (3)0.0236 (8)
H10.5230620.3196410.6880640.028*
C30.44299 (19)0.2968 (3)0.4223 (3)0.0221 (8)
C40.45037 (19)0.3441 (3)0.5345 (3)0.0201 (8)
C50.55663 (19)0.1465 (3)0.4664 (3)0.0227 (8)
C60.39012 (19)0.4417 (3)0.5630 (3)0.0238 (8)
H20.3942310.4722340.6377810.029*
C70.1346 (2)0.7473 (3)0.5551 (3)0.0269 (8)
C80.60864 (19)0.0387 (3)0.4338 (3)0.0246 (8)
H30.6000740.0087410.3585420.030*
C90.68701 (19)0.0220 (3)0.6217 (3)0.0246 (8)
C100.3259 (2)0.4925 (3)0.4836 (3)0.0263 (9)
C110.3759 (2)0.3515 (3)0.3423 (3)0.0275 (9)
H40.3702150.3212670.2672310.033*
C120.8143 (2)0.1025 (3)0.7458 (3)0.0286 (9)
C130.7548 (2)0.0444 (3)0.6939 (3)0.0257 (8)
C140.88472 (19)0.1841 (3)0.8114 (3)0.0277 (8)
C150.63762 (19)0.1265 (3)0.6553 (3)0.0251 (8)
H50.6487820.1575350.7302520.030*
C160.2620 (2)0.5886 (3)0.5099 (3)0.0274 (9)
C170.2065 (2)0.6609 (3)0.5275 (3)0.0256 (8)
C180.6699 (2)0.0219 (3)0.5076 (3)0.0274 (9)
H60.7026290.0956740.4836790.033*
C190.3198 (2)0.4463 (3)0.3715 (3)0.0293 (9)
H70.2760380.4822280.3165020.035*
C200.1141 (2)0.8677 (3)0.4733 (3)0.0307 (9)
H80.1024750.8301570.3975820.046*
H90.1623150.9323920.4804410.046*
H100.0641290.9182630.4892220.046*
C210.1557 (2)0.7998 (3)0.6747 (3)0.0335 (9)
H110.1082560.8553290.6926060.050*
H120.2066420.8586450.6830830.050*
H130.1658490.7190740.7251860.050*
C220.8534 (2)0.2498 (3)0.9101 (3)0.0352 (9)
H140.8995770.3027390.9546760.053*
H150.8062860.3137140.8838030.053*
H160.8341730.1755850.9557530.053*
C230.9165 (2)0.2961 (3)0.7380 (3)0.0382 (10)
H170.9417070.2499370.6795460.057*
H180.8689820.3550980.7040050.057*
H190.9592360.3549000.7833580.057*
Atomic displacement parameters (Å2) top
U11U22U33U12U13U23
O10.0267 (13)0.0324 (14)0.0409 (18)0.0101 (11)0.0031 (12)0.0138 (12)
O20.0330 (15)0.0263 (14)0.0553 (19)0.0053 (12)0.0010 (13)0.0019 (13)
N10.0270 (16)0.0263 (15)0.0247 (19)0.0009 (14)0.0048 (14)0.0022 (13)
C10.0202 (18)0.0209 (17)0.026 (2)0.0004 (15)0.0052 (16)0.0019 (16)
C20.0246 (19)0.0260 (18)0.020 (2)0.0046 (16)0.0036 (16)0.0035 (16)
C30.0223 (19)0.0203 (18)0.024 (2)0.0011 (15)0.0054 (16)0.0012 (16)
C40.0214 (18)0.0194 (17)0.021 (2)0.0019 (15)0.0069 (16)0.0002 (15)
C50.0240 (19)0.0218 (18)0.023 (2)0.0006 (16)0.0048 (17)0.0032 (16)
C60.025 (2)0.0231 (18)0.025 (2)0.0008 (16)0.0082 (17)0.0020 (16)
C70.0214 (19)0.0197 (17)0.039 (2)0.0002 (15)0.0037 (16)0.0033 (16)
C80.025 (2)0.0248 (18)0.025 (2)0.0012 (16)0.0070 (17)0.0004 (16)
C90.0196 (19)0.0246 (19)0.030 (3)0.0018 (16)0.0048 (17)0.0004 (17)
C100.025 (2)0.0237 (18)0.031 (3)0.0000 (16)0.0081 (18)0.0005 (17)
C110.030 (2)0.0279 (19)0.023 (2)0.0008 (17)0.0002 (17)0.0030 (16)
C120.033 (2)0.0233 (18)0.031 (2)0.0005 (17)0.0073 (18)0.0015 (17)
C130.025 (2)0.0222 (18)0.030 (2)0.0017 (17)0.0034 (17)0.0004 (16)
C140.0227 (19)0.0238 (18)0.035 (2)0.0020 (16)0.0001 (16)0.0005 (17)
C150.026 (2)0.0258 (19)0.023 (2)0.0051 (16)0.0016 (16)0.0018 (16)
C160.023 (2)0.0285 (19)0.032 (2)0.0013 (17)0.0071 (17)0.0038 (17)
C170.027 (2)0.0202 (18)0.029 (2)0.0016 (16)0.0020 (16)0.0013 (15)
C180.026 (2)0.0225 (19)0.036 (3)0.0017 (16)0.0114 (18)0.0033 (17)
C190.024 (2)0.030 (2)0.034 (3)0.0030 (16)0.0052 (17)0.0085 (18)
C200.0251 (19)0.0263 (19)0.040 (2)0.0039 (15)0.0053 (17)0.0047 (17)
C210.039 (2)0.0278 (19)0.034 (2)0.0010 (17)0.0065 (18)0.0082 (17)
C220.040 (2)0.035 (2)0.032 (2)0.0013 (18)0.0117 (18)0.0105 (18)
C230.029 (2)0.045 (2)0.040 (3)0.0041 (18)0.0023 (18)0.0062 (19)
Geometric parameters (Å, º) top
O1—C71.442 (4)C10—C191.425 (5)
O1—H200.8400C10—C161.448 (4)
O2—C141.446 (4)C11—C191.362 (4)
O2—H210.8400C11—H40.9500
N1—C31.344 (4)C12—C131.189 (4)
N1—C51.351 (4)C12—C141.487 (5)
C1—C21.388 (4)C14—C221.516 (4)
C1—C151.422 (4)C14—C231.533 (4)
C1—C51.435 (4)C15—H50.9500
C2—C41.400 (4)C16—C171.171 (4)
C2—H10.9500C18—H60.9500
C3—C111.424 (4)C19—H70.9500
C3—C41.427 (4)C20—H80.9800
C4—C61.423 (4)C20—H90.9800
C5—C81.419 (4)C20—H100.9800
C6—C101.377 (4)C21—H110.9800
C6—H20.9500C21—H120.9800
C7—C171.498 (4)C21—H130.9800
C7—C201.518 (4)C22—H140.9800
C7—C211.527 (4)C22—H150.9800
C8—C181.346 (4)C22—H160.9800
C8—H30.9500C23—H170.9800
C9—C151.374 (4)C23—H180.9800
C9—C131.427 (4)C23—H190.9800
C9—C181.436 (4)
C7—O1—H20109.5O2—C14—C12108.7 (3)
C14—O2—H21109.5O2—C14—C22110.7 (3)
C3—N1—C5117.6 (3)C12—C14—C22108.7 (3)
C2—C1—C15123.3 (3)O2—C14—C23107.1 (2)
C2—C1—C5118.0 (3)C12—C14—C23110.0 (3)
C15—C1—C5118.7 (3)C22—C14—C23111.5 (3)
C1—C2—C4119.6 (3)C9—C15—C1121.6 (3)
C1—C2—H1120.2C9—C15—H5119.2
C4—C2—H1120.2C1—C15—H5119.2
N1—C3—C11118.2 (3)C17—C16—C10175.8 (4)
N1—C3—C4123.3 (3)C16—C17—C7176.7 (3)
C11—C3—C4118.4 (3)C8—C18—C9121.7 (3)
C2—C4—C6122.5 (3)C8—C18—H6119.2
C2—C4—C3118.2 (3)C9—C18—H6119.2
C6—C4—C3119.3 (3)C11—C19—C10120.9 (3)
N1—C5—C8118.3 (3)C11—C19—H7119.5
N1—C5—C1123.3 (3)C10—C19—H7119.5
C8—C5—C1118.4 (3)C7—C20—H8109.5
C10—C6—C4120.9 (3)C7—C20—H9109.5
C10—C6—H2119.6H8—C20—H9109.5
C4—C6—H2119.6C7—C20—H10109.5
O1—C7—C17109.4 (2)H8—C20—H10109.5
O1—C7—C20107.1 (3)H9—C20—H10109.5
C17—C7—C20110.8 (3)C7—C21—H11109.5
O1—C7—C21107.8 (3)C7—C21—H12109.5
C17—C7—C21109.8 (3)H11—C21—H12109.5
C20—C7—C21111.9 (3)C7—C21—H13109.5
C18—C8—C5121.2 (3)H11—C21—H13109.5
C18—C8—H3119.4H12—C21—H13109.5
C5—C8—H3119.4C14—C22—H14109.5
C15—C9—C13123.5 (3)C14—C22—H15109.5
C15—C9—C18118.3 (3)H14—C22—H15109.5
C13—C9—C18118.3 (3)C14—C22—H16109.5
C6—C10—C19119.4 (3)H14—C22—H16109.5
C6—C10—C16122.5 (3)H15—C22—H16109.5
C19—C10—C16118.0 (3)C14—C23—H17109.5
C19—C11—C3121.0 (3)C14—C23—H18109.5
C19—C11—H4119.5H17—C23—H18109.5
C3—C11—H4119.5C14—C23—H19109.5
C13—C12—C14175.9 (3)H17—C23—H19109.5
C12—C13—C9174.1 (4)H18—C23—H19109.5
C15—C1—C2—C4179.2 (3)C3—C4—C6—C101.1 (4)
C5—C1—C2—C40.0 (4)N1—C5—C8—C18178.4 (3)
C5—N1—C3—C11178.0 (3)C1—C5—C8—C180.5 (4)
C5—N1—C3—C40.4 (4)C4—C6—C10—C190.1 (4)
C1—C2—C4—C6177.0 (3)C4—C6—C10—C16178.1 (3)
C1—C2—C4—C31.1 (4)N1—C3—C11—C19178.3 (3)
N1—C3—C4—C21.0 (4)C4—C3—C11—C190.2 (4)
C11—C3—C4—C2179.3 (3)C13—C9—C15—C1179.6 (3)
N1—C3—C4—C6177.3 (3)C18—C9—C15—C10.9 (4)
C11—C3—C4—C61.1 (4)C2—C1—C15—C9176.1 (3)
C3—N1—C5—C8176.1 (3)C5—C1—C15—C93.1 (4)
C3—N1—C5—C11.6 (4)C5—C8—C18—C91.7 (5)
C2—C1—C5—N11.4 (4)C15—C9—C18—C81.6 (5)
C15—C1—C5—N1179.3 (3)C13—C9—C18—C8178.0 (3)
C2—C1—C5—C8176.3 (3)C3—C11—C19—C100.8 (5)
C15—C1—C5—C82.9 (4)C6—C10—C19—C110.8 (5)
C2—C4—C6—C10179.2 (3)C16—C10—C19—C11177.3 (3)
Hydrogen-bond geometry (Å, º) top
D—H···AD—HH···AD···AD—H···A
O1—H20···O2i0.842.042.794 (4)149
O2—H21···O1ii0.841.942.735 (4)158
Symmetry codes: (i) x1, y+1/2, z1/2; (ii) x+1, y1/2, z+3/2.
 

Funding information

Funding for this research was provided by: MEXT, Japan (grant No. 15H00985).

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