Synthesis of some polycyclic aromatic polyphenylhydrazones

From Emil Fisher to present times many phenylhydrazones have been synthesized and tested for their physical and chemical properties as well as biological activity. Phenylhydrazine derivatives of vicinal bis or tris cyclic ketones have been extensively studied and many found applications as fingerprinting or drug testing agents. The reaction of phenylhydrazine with well known aromatic and/or polycyclic vicinal polyketones such as ninhydrine, indandione, acenaphthenes and fluorenes has been investigated. In this study, the focus is on the synthesis of several new mono and polycyclic aromatic phenylhydrazones. Additionally, previously known compounds are synthesized by alternative methods while a number of reaction intermediates are identified and characterized.