Patent Description:
The Marschalk Reaction is the reaction of a hydroxyl- or amino-substituted anthraquinone with an aldehyde in the presence of sodium dithionite to introduce an alpha-hydroxyalkyl-functional group ortho to the hydroxyl or amine substituent on the starting molecule. Under certain conditions, dehydroxylation of the alpha-hydroxyalkyl-functional group subsequently takes place, leaving a methylene (-CH2-) linker between the anthraquinone core and the rest of the new functional group. The reaction works with a variety of aldehydes, including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, glyoxylic acid, and so on. See e.g. <NPL>. The reaction can be intermolecular or intramolecular.

In all reported examples of the (alpha-hydroxy)alkylation or alkylation of hydroxyl- or amino-substituted anthraquinones, the reducing agent used is sodium dithionite. Replacement of sodium dithionite with a different, cheaper, reducing agent could allow the same reaction to proceed at lower cost.

<CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose anthraquinone compounds and their manufacture.

The mechanism of the Marschalk reaction starts with the reduction of the <NUM>,<NUM>-anthraquinone core of the substituted anthraquinone starting material to a <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthracene core. This reduced starting material is what then reacts with the aldehyde to form a carbon-carbon bond.

It is known that <NUM>,<NUM>-anthraquinones can be easily reduced to the corresponding <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthracenes using other reactants such as hydrogen gas, optionally in the presence of a catalyst such as palladium supported on a carbon substrate. Emile, <CIT>. Alternatively, the reduction can be realized electrochemically such as in a half-cell of a flow battery.

However, the use of reducing agents other than sodium dithionite in the Marschalk reaction is unknown. This invention features the synthesis of anthraquinone derivatives through a process analogous to the classical Marschalk reaction, but with reducing agents other than sodium dithionite or other dithionite salts.

As summarized in <FIG>, but not falling within the scope of the invention, a substituted anthraquinone starting material, an aldehyde, a base, an optional solvent, and an optional catalyst are mixed in a reaction vessel an exposed to an atmosphere comprising hydrogen gas. The reaction may be heated, cooled, or held at different temperatures throughout the duration of the reaction. Depending on the reaction temperature, the (alpha-hydroxy)alkylated product is favored or the dehydroxylated, alkylated product is favored. After a predetermined amount of time, an oxidant is introduced to the reaction mixture. After a further predetermined amount of time, the reaction product is isolated from the reaction mixture and optionally purified through conventional means familiar to one skilled in the art, such as precipitation, filtration, distillation, sublimation, recrystallization, solvent extraction, washing, chromatography, centrifugation, and so on.

In some embodiments of the invention, the substituted anthraquinone starting material comprises of Formula I:
<CHM>.

wherein X is selected from the group comprising of: a hydroxy or amino group in the <NUM>-position, and the anthraquinone is unsubstituted (i.e. carbon bonded to hydrogen) in the <NUM>-position. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other substituents present on the substituted anthraquinone starting material may change the position numbering of the aforementioned hydroxy or amino group, as well as the unsubstituted carbon atom ortho to it, but the position numbering will not affect the general reactivity, only the relative positioning of the hydroxy group on the substituted anthraquinone and the unsubstituted carbon atom next to it. In some embodiments of the invention, the aldehyde is covalently attached to the anthraquinone derivative, and the reaction proceeds intramolecularly, or under certain conditions, could proceed to form dimers, or cyclamers, or oligomeric or polymeric chains.

In some embodiments of the invention, the base is selected from the group comprising of: an inorganic hydroxide, a metal alkoxide, an amine, or an amidine or mixtures thereof. In particular embodiments of the invention, the base is an alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. In other embodiments of the invention, the base is a metal alkoxide or an alkali metal alkoxide such as sodium methoxide or potassium tert-butoxide. In other embodiments of the invention, the base is an amine or a trialkylamine such as triethylamine or diisopropylethylamine. In other embodiments, the base is an amidine wherein the amidine is a non-nucleophilic base such as <NUM>,<NUM>-diazabicycloundec-<NUM>-ene (DBU) or <NUM>,<NUM>-diazabicyclo[<NUM>. <NUM>]non-<NUM>-ene (DBN).

In general, most aldehydes can undergo the reaction, analogously to the traditional Marschalk Reaction described in the literature above. In some embodiments of the reaction, the aldehyde is a water-soluble aldehyde such as formaldehyde or acetaldehyde. In other embodiments of the reaction, the aldehyde is an organic compound such as benzaldehyde that is only sparingly soluble or insoluble in water but is soluble in organic solvents. In still more embodiments of the invention, the aldehyde, such as glyoxylic acid, contains an acidic group that imparts solubility when mixed with the base.

In some embodiments of the invention, the aldehyde can reversibly interconvert between a form that has a free aldehyde group and a form in which a molecule of water or alcohol has been added to the aldehyde group thus forming a gem-diol or a hemiacetal respectively. In further aspects of the invention, the alcohol group is located on the same molecule as the aldehyde and the reversible addition takes place intramolecularly. In other aspects of the invention, the aldehyde functional group forms upon ring opening to an open chain form during the course of the reaction. Examples of such "transient" aldehydes are reducing sugars including but not limited to glucose, galactose, fructose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, glyceraldehyde, lactose, cellobiose, and maltose. These reducing sugars can exist as either the D- or the L- enantiomer, or a mixture of the two, or a racemic mixture. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that any reducing sugar may be used in the embodiments described herein. In other embodiments of the reaction, a non-reducing sugar may be used which then converts into an aldehyde-containing reducing sugar during the course of the reaction. An example of such a non-reducing sugar is fructose, which can convert into either glucose or mannose, both of which are reducing sugars.

In some embodiments of the invention, the base and/or the aldehyde act as the solvent. In other embodiments of the invention, the solvent is a separate species such as water, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, <NUM>,<NUM>-dioxane, N,N-dimethylformamide, and so on. In other embodiments of the invention, the solvent comprises more than one solvent, such as a water-ethanol mixture, a methanol-N,N-dimethylformamide mixture, a water-<NUM>,<NUM>-dioxane mixture, and so on. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that any polar, protic or aprotic solvent and mixtures thereof may be used in the embodiments described herein.

In some embodiments of the invention, the optional catalyst is a catalyst for catalytic hydrogenation, or a pre-catalyst that is converted to the active catalyst for catalytic hydrogenation during the course of the reaction. The catalyst may be optionally supported on a substrate. Examples of catalysts include, but are not limited to, nickel on carbon, palladium on carbon, platinum on carbon, rhodium on carbon, palladium hydroxide, platinum black, platinum dioxide, Wilkinson's catalyst, Crabtree's catalyst, Shvo's catalyst, and so on.

In some embodiments of the invention, the reaction atmosphere is partially or wholly comprised of hydrogen. The reaction atmosphere can be at atmospheric pressure, lower than atmospheric pressure, or above atmospheric pressure.

In some embodiments of the invention, the oxidant is present in the gas phase and can be air, oxygen, ozone, or mixtures thereof. The oxidant can alternatively be a liquid or present in the solution phase, including but not limited to dimethylsulfoxide or hydrogen peroxide. The oxidant can be a solid such as silver(I) oxide. Combinations of different oxidants may also be employed.

According to the synthetic scheme illustrated in <FIG>, but not falling within the scope of the invention, the catalyst is Raney Nickel and the hydrogen is already present on the surface of the catalyst, and not provided as a gas to the atmosphere of the reaction vessel.

According to the synthetic scheme illustrated in <FIG>, but not falling within the scope of the invention, the aldehyde is introduced only after the hydrogen has been vented from the reaction vessel but before the reduced substituted anthraquinone starting material has been re-oxidized by the oxidant.

In an aspect of the invention, summarized as a chemical reaction in <FIG> and depicted in <FIG>, reduction of the substituted anthraquinone starting material takes place electrochemically rather than chemically, through the use of a divided electrolytic cell <NUM>. The divided electrolytic cell <NUM> comprises a first chamber <NUM> with a first electrode <NUM>, and is separated from a second chamber <NUM> with a second electrode <NUM> by an ion-conducting membrane <NUM>. There may independently be an electrocatalyst on the first electrode <NUM> only, an electrocatalyst on the second electrode <NUM> only, both the first and second electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>, or there can be no electrocatalyst on either the first or second electrode <NUM>, <NUM>.

A first fluid stream <NUM> comprising of a substituted anthraquinone starting material of Formula I, an aldehyde, a base, and an optional solvent is flowed through a first chamber inlet <NUM> into the first chamber of the electrolytic cell <NUM> such that the first fluid stream makes contact with the first electrode <NUM> and exits through a first chamber outlet <NUM>. At the same time, a second fluid stream <NUM> is flowed through a second chamber inlet <NUM> into the second chamber of the electrolytic cell <NUM> such that the second fluid stream makes contact with the second electrode <NUM> and exits through a second chamber outlet <NUM>. An electric potential <NUM> is applied to the two electrodes such that the first electrode is at a more negative potential relative to the second electrode. In some embodiments, the first electrode is the cathode, and the second electrode is the anode.

As the first fluid stream <NUM> passes the first electrode <NUM>, it is electrochemically reduced. Likewise, as the second fluid stream <NUM> passes the second electrode <NUM>, it is electrochemically oxidized. The first fluid stream <NUM> may make just one pass through the first chamber <NUM> of the divided electrolytic cell <NUM>, or the fluid exiting the first chamber outlet <NUM> may be recirculated and flowed back into the first chamber inlet <NUM> multiple times. Likewise, the second fluid stream <NUM> may make just one pass through the second chamber <NUM> of the divided electrolytic cell <NUM>, or the fluid exiting the second chamber outlet <NUM> may be recirculated and flowed back into the second chamber inlet <NUM> multiple times. The divided electrolytic cell <NUM>, first fluid stream <NUM>, and/or second fluid stream <NUM> may be heated, cooled, or held at different temperatures throughout the duration of the reaction. Depending on the reaction temperature, the (alpha-hydroxy)alkylated product is favored or the dehydroxylated, alkylated product is favored.

After a predetermined amount of time, or after a predetermined amount of charge has been passed, the first fluid stream <NUM> may be treated in one of several ways described below and the reaction product may be subsequently isolated from the treated first fluid stream and optionally purified through conventional means familiar to one skilled in the art. The threshold amount of charge to be passed may be pre-determined by examining the theoretical amount of charge required for the reaction to proceed to completion. In <FIG>, the anthraquinone starting material requires two equivalents of electrons to be reduced to the <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthracene derivative which then reacts with the aldehyde to form the (alpha-hydroxy)alkylated intermediate. This intermediate then undergoes intramolecular disproportionation to produce the alkylated product and a re-oxidized anthraquinone core, which can accept two more electrons. In this case, the threshold amount of charge is <NUM> equivalents with respect to the amount of anthraquinone starting material originally present. In the case where two equivalents of aldehyde react with one molecule of anthraquinone starting material, the theoretical amount of charge to be passed would be <NUM> equivalents. Greater threshold amounts of charge can be set in order to account for process inefficiencies such as the effect of oxygen reoxidizing the reaction mixture, Coulombic efficiencies arising from side reactions and so on. Conversely, if the (alpha-hydroxy)alkylated intermediate is actually the desired product, or if an (alpha-hydroxy)alkylated material is the starting material and the dehydroxylated, alkylated material is the desired product, then fewer equivalents of charge (e.g. around two equivalents) could be used as the reaction end point.

Alternatively, a threshold voltage (if current is passed galvanostatically) or a threshold current or current density (if current is passed potentiostatically) could be used in place of the predetermined amount of time or charge passed, if the alkylated (non-alpha-hydroxylated) product is the desired product, towards the end of the reaction there remain fewer and fewer <NUM>,<NUM>-anthraquinone cores in the reaction mixture that are available to accept electrons. This manifests as a sharp increase in the voltage if current is passed galvanostatically, or a decrease in the current if current is passed potentiostatically. It is advisable to set a threshold upper voltage or a threshold lower current (or current density), beyond which current flow is stopped, in order to minimize the amount of potential side reactions. The threshold voltage can be defined as a fixed number, for example, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, ><NUM> V/cell, and so on, or it could be defined as a percentage increase over the average voltage in the first of a certain number of equivalents of charge passed, such as ><NUM>% over the average voltage during the first equivalent of charge passed, ><NUM>% over the average voltage during the first <NUM> equivalents of charge passed, ><NUM>% over the average voltage during the first <NUM> equivalents of charge passed, ><NUM>% over the average voltage during the first <NUM> equivalents of charge passed, ><NUM>% over the average voltage during the first <NUM> equivalents of charge passed, and many such combinations thereof. For example, in the case where the theoretical amount of charge that can be passed is <NUM> equivalents, and the cell voltage is an average of <NUM> V over the first equivalent of charge passed, a threshold voltage that is ><NUM>% over the starting voltage means the current would be stopped once the voltage exceeds <NUM> V/cell, when the current is being applied galvanostatically. Similarly, the threshold current (or current density) can be defined as a number, such as <<NUM> A, <<NUM> A, <<NUM> A, <<NUM> A, <<NUM> mA/cm<NUM>, <<NUM> mA/cm<NUM>, <<NUM> mA/cm<NUM>, <<NUM> A/cm<NUM>, and so on, or it could be defined as a percentage of the average current or current density in the first of a certain number of equivalents of charge passed, such as <<NUM>% of the average current or current density during the first equivalent of charge passed, <<NUM>% of the average current or current density during the first <NUM> equivalents of charge passed, <<NUM>% of the average current or current density during the first <NUM> equivalents of charge passed, <<NUM>% of the average current or current density during the first <NUM> equivalents of charge passed, <<NUM>% of the average current or current density during the first <NUM> equivalents of charge passed, <<NUM>% of the average current or current density during the first <NUM> equivalents of charge passed, <<NUM>% of the average current or current density during the first <NUM> equivalents of charge passed, and many such combinations thereof. For example, in the case where the theoretical amount of charge that can be passed is <NUM> equivalents, and the current density is an average of <NUM> mA/cm<NUM> over the first equivalent of charge passed, a threshold current density of <<NUM>% of the starting current density means the current would be stopped once the current density drops below <NUM> mA/cm<NUM>, when the current is being applied potentiostatically. In some embodiments, current is passed galvanostatically until the cell voltage hits some threshold value, such as <NUM>. 8V and so on, and then the cell voltage is maintained until the current or current density drops below a threshold value as similarly specified for potentiostatic operation.

In some embodiments of the reaction, the substituted anthraquinone comprises of Formula II:
<CHM>.

Wherein X is a hydroxyl or amino group. In some embodiments X<NUM> and X<NUM> are the same. In other embodiments X<NUM> and X<NUM> are different. Examples of this include <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone, <NUM>,<NUM>-diaminoanthraquinone, <NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>-aminoanthraquinone, and so on.

In other embodiments of the reaction, the substituted anthraquinone comprises of Formula III:
<CHM>.

Wherein X is a hydroxyl or amino group. In some embodiments X<NUM> and X<NUM> are the same. In other embodiments X<NUM> and X<NUM> are different. Examples of this include <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone, <NUM>,<NUM>-diaminoanthraquinone, <NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>-aminoanthraquinone, and so on. Anthraquinones of Formulas II and III, which comprise of two X substituents on separate aromatic rings of the same molecule, or two unsubstituted positions each ortho to the X substituents, would be able to react with two equivalents of aldehyde to form a bis(alpha-hydroxy)alkylated product or a bis-alkylated product.

In other embodiments of the reaction, the substituted anthraquinone comprises of Formula IV:
<CHM>.

Wherein X is a hydroxyl or amino group. In some embodiments X<NUM> and X<NUM> are the same. In other embodiments X<NUM> and X<NUM> are different. Examples of this include <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone, <NUM>,<NUM>-diaminoanthraquinone, <NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>-aminoanthraquinone, and so on. Anthraquinones of Formulas II, III, and IV which comprise of two X substituents on separate aromatic rings of the same molecule, or two unsubstituted positions each ortho to the X substituents, would be able to react with two equivalents of aldehyde to form a bis(alpha-hydroxy)alkylated product or a bis-alkylated product.

In some embodiments of the invention, the base is selected from the group comprising of: an inorganic hydroxide, a metal alkoxide, an amine, and an amidine and mixtures thereof. In particular embodiments of the invention, the base is an alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. In other embodiments of the invention, the base is a metal alkoxide or alkali metal alkoxide such as sodium methoxide or potassium tert-butoxide. In other embodiments of the invention, the base is an amine or a trialkylamine such as triethylamine or diisopropylethylamine. In other embodiments, the base is an amidine or a non-nucleophilic base such as <NUM>,<NUM>-diazabicycloundec-<NUM>-ene (DBU) or <NUM>,<NUM>-diazabicyclo[<NUM>. <NUM>]non-<NUM>-ene (DBN).

In some embodiments of the invention, the base and/or the aldehyde act as the solvent. In other embodiments of the invention, the solvent is a separate species such as water, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, <NUM>,<NUM>-dioxane, N,N-dimethylformamide, and so on.

In some embodiments of the invention, the first and second electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise defined flow channels to direct fluid.

In some embodiments of the invention, the first and second electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> are conductive carbon electrodes. In other embodiments of the invention, the first electrode <NUM> is a conductive carbon electrode and the second electrode <NUM> comprises nickel, cobalt, iron, stainless steel, or platinum.

In some embodiments of the invention, the ion-selective membrane <NUM> is a cation-conducting membrane such as Nafion® <NUM>, FuMATech® E-<NUM>, or Selemion CMV-N®.

In some embodiments of the invention, the second fluid stream <NUM> comprises hydrogen gas. In further embodiments of the invention, the second electrode <NUM> is configured to allow hydrogen to be oxidized and thereby act as a source of electrons, such as a gas diffusion electrode. In still further embodiments of the invention, the second electrode <NUM> also contains an electrocatalyst for hydrogen oxidation such as platinum.

In some embodiments of the invention, the second fluid stream <NUM> comprises methanol. In further embodiments of the invention, the second electrode <NUM> also contains an electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation such as platinum-ruthenium.

In some embodiments of the invention, the second fluid stream <NUM> comprises an aqueous solution of a salt of ferrocyanide, such as sodium ferrocyanide, potassium ferrocyanide, or ammonium ferrocyanide.

In some embodiments of the invention, the second fluid stream <NUM> comprises an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. In further embodiments of the invention, the second electrode <NUM> comprises a typical alkaline electrolyzer material such as nickel or stainless steel. In further embodiments of the invention, the oxygen produced at the second electrode <NUM> is used as the oxidant in Treatment <NUM> to re-oxidize the first fluid stream <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the invention, the aldehyde is not included in the first fluid stream <NUM>, but is only added later to the first fluid stream <NUM> after the current density in the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> has fallen below a threshold value, as defined above, or after the applied electric potential rises above a threshold value, or after a predetermined amount of charge has been passed. In further embodiments of the invention, the electric potential <NUM> between the first and second electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> is switched to open circuit potential after (a) the current density in the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> has fallen below a threshold value, (b) after the applied electric potential rises above a threshold value, or (c) after a predetermined amount of charge has been passed, and before the aldehyde is added to the first fluid stream <NUM>.

In some aspects of the invention, the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> can be used as a redox flow battery cell without having to change out the first or second electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>, or the ion-conducting membrane <NUM>. In further embodiments of the invention, the (alpha-hydroxy)alkylated product or the dehydroxylated, alkylated product that is produced in the first fluid stream <NUM> using the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> is not drained from the first chamber <NUM> of the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> but is retained in the solution phase and used directly as the negative electrolyte (i.e., the negolyte or anolyte) of a redox flow battery wherein the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> is the redox flow battery cell. In still further embodiments of the invention, the second fluid stream <NUM> is not drained from the second chamber <NUM> of the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> but is retained in the solution phase and used directly as the positive electrolyte (i.e. the posolyte or catholyte) of a redox flow battery wherein the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> is the redox flow battery cell. In further embodiments of the invention, both the first and second fluid streams <NUM>, <NUM> are not drained from the first and second chambers <NUM>, <NUM> respectively of the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> but are retained in the solution phase and used directly as the negative and positive electrolytes respectively of a redox flow battery, or as the positive and negative electrolytes respectively of a redox flow battery, wherein the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> is the redox flow battery cell.

In further embodiments of the invention, the state of charge of the negative and positive electrolytes (formerly the first fluid stream <NUM> and second fluid stream <NUM>, or, in some other embodiments, the second fluid stream <NUM> and the first fluid stream <NUM>) can be individually adjusted, or rebalanced, to maximize the capacity of the resulting redox flow battery. For example, the first or second fluid stream <NUM>, <NUM> can be treated with an oxidant such as oxygen in atmospheric air, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, sodium hypochlorite, and so on, or the first or second fluid stream <NUM>, <NUM> can be treated with a reducing agent such as hydrogen together with an optional catalyst, hydrazine, hydrazine hydrate, sodium thiosulfate, sodium dithionite, sodium sulfite, and so on.

In some aspects of the invention, the substituted anthraquinone and aldehyde in the first fluid stream <NUM> are replaced by the intermediate of the same type of reaction described earlier; in other words, a different substituted anthraquinone comprising a hydroxy or amine group in the <NUM>-position, and further comprising a -CH(OH)-R group in the <NUM>-position. In this case, the desired product would be dehydroxylated at the benzylic position of the substituent in the <NUM>-position.

After a predetermined amount of time, or after a predetermined amount of charge has been passed, the first fluid stream <NUM> is drained from the first chamber <NUM> of the divided electrolytic cell <NUM> and an oxidant is introduced to the first fluid stream <NUM>. In some embodiments of the invention, the oxidant is present in the gas phase and can be air, oxygen, ozone, or mixtures thereof. The oxidant can alternatively be a liquid or present in the solution phase, including but not limited to dimethylsulfoxide or hydrogen peroxide. The oxidant can be a solid such as silver(I) oxide. Combinations of different oxidants may also be employed. After a further predetermined amount of time, the reaction product is isolated from the oxidized first fluid stream and optionally purified through conventional means familiar to one skilled in the art.

After a predetermined amount of time, or after a predetermined amount of charge has been passed, the second fluid stream <NUM> is optionally replaced by a third fluid stream <NUM>, and the electrical potential <NUM> across the first and second electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> is reversed in sign, such that electrochemical oxidation of the first fluid stream <NUM> now takes place instead of electrochemical reduction, and electrochemical reduction of the second or third fluid stream <NUM>, <NUM> now takes place instead of electrochemical oxidation. After a further predetermined amount of time, or passage of a predetermined amount of charge, or the electrical current density falling below a threshold value, or after the applied electric potential rises above a threshold value, the oxidized first fluid stream <NUM> is drained from the first chamber <NUM> of the divided electrolytic cell <NUM>, and the reaction product is isolated and optionally purified through conventional means familiar to one skilled in the art.

After a predetermined amount of time, or after a predetermined amount of charge has been passed, the first fluid stream <NUM> is drained from the first chamber <NUM> of the divided electrolytic cell <NUM>. The drained first fluid stream <NUM> is now flowed through a third chamber <NUM> past a third electrode <NUM> of a second divided electrolytic cell <NUM>, which has a third fluid stream <NUM> flowing through a fourth chamber <NUM> past a fourth electrode <NUM> of the second divided electrolytic cell <NUM>. An electric potential <NUM> is applied to the third and fourth electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> of the second divided electrolytic cell <NUM> such that the third electrode <NUM> is at a more positive potential relative to the fourth electrode <NUM>. (In other words, the third electrode <NUM> is the anode and the fourth electrode <NUM> is the cathode <NUM>. ) After a further predetermined amount of time, or passage of a predetermined amount of charge, or the electrical current density falling below a threshold value, or after the applied electric potential rises above a threshold value, the drained first fluid stream <NUM>, now oxidized, is drained from the third chamber <NUM> of the second divided electrolytic cell <NUM>, and the reaction product is isolated and optionally purified through conventional means (reprecipitation, recrystallization, filtration, distillation, washing, extraction, chromatography, etc.) familiar to one skilled in the art.

Inside a Parr hydrogenator equipped with a mechanical stirrer, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone (<NUM> mmol), <NUM> grams of glyoxylic acid monohydrate (<NUM> mmol, <NUM> equiv. ), and <NUM> grams of <NUM> wt% palladium on carbon were thoroughly mixed in <NUM> of <NUM> NaOH solution. The reaction mixture was sparged with hydrogen gas for <NUM> minutes and then pressurized with hydrogen to reach a pressure of <NUM> psi. The reaction was stirred at room temperature (~<NUM>) for <NUM> hour, then heated to <NUM> for <NUM> hour. The vessel was vented, the reaction mixture poured onto sufficient ice to rapidly bring the temperature down to approximately room temperature, then a stream of air was bubbled through the reaction mixture for <NUM> minutes. The solution was acidified with <NUM> hydrochloric acid until pH <NUM>-<NUM>, then filtered to remove the palladium/carbon catalyst and unreacted <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone. The filtrate was then treated further with concentrated hydrochloric acid until pH ~<NUM>, causing an ochre solid to precipitate out of solution. The solid was collected by filtration and washed with cold water to give the crude product <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxy-<NUM>,<NUM>-bis(carboxymethyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-anthraquinone, yield <NUM>%. The solid can be purified by recrystallization from hot water and dried if desired.

An electrochemical cell ("MP Cell®", ElectroCell North America, Inc. ) with <NUM><NUM> of electrode area was constructed with a graphite felt cathode, a stainless steel anode, Nafion® <NUM> membrane, polypropylene flow frames, EPDM gaskets, a cathode reservoir for holding the catholyte, and an anode reservoir for holding the anolyte. The cathode reservoir had a ~<NUM> liter capacity and was maintained under an inert nitrogen atmosphere to prevent reoxidation of the reaction mixture by atmospheric oxygen, while the anode reservoir had a ~<NUM> liter capacity and was open to the atmosphere. Both reservoirs were equipped with heating elements to heat the anolyte and catholyte as needed. First, the anode reservoir was filled with <NUM> liters of <NUM> NaOH. The catholyte was first prepared outside the cathode reservoir by mixing <NUM> of <NUM>% NaOH solution, <NUM> of glyoxylic acid monohydrate, and <NUM> grams (<NUM> mmol) of <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone in sufficient deionized water to bring the total volume of catholyte to around <NUM> liters. The catholyte slurry was added to the cathode reservoir and pumps were started to circulate both the catholyte and anolyte to the electrochemical cell. A further <NUM> of deionized water was added to the catholyte for a final catholyte volume of <NUM> liters. The catholyte and anolyte were warmed to <NUM> and current was passed at a constant current of <NUM> mA/cm<NUM> (total current <NUM> A) while the temperature was slowly raised to <NUM>. Throughout the operation, oxygen gas is evolved at the anode while the catholyte solution is being reduced. After <NUM> equivalents of charge with respect to <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone were passed (<NUM> mmol, <NUM>,<NUM> Coulombs), the temperature was raised to <NUM> and held there until a total of <NUM> equivalents of charge (<NUM> mmol, <NUM>,<NUM> Coulombs) were passed. HPLC analysis of an aerated aliquot showed no remaining <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone in solution and the target molecule <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(carboxymethyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone (DCDHAQ) present in ~<NUM>% purity. Some of the impurities observed by HPLC (British Pharmacopeia <NUM> for Dantron: C18 column eluting isocratically with a mixture of <NUM> volumes of glacial acetic acid, <NUM> volumes of tetrahydrofuran, and <NUM> volumes of water at a flow rate of <NUM>/minute, <NUM> minute run time, detecting at <NUM>) included the intermediate compounds <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(alpha-hydroxy-carboxymethyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone and <NUM>-(alpha-hydroxy-carboxymethyl)-<NUM>-carboxymethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone, which can be subsequently converted into the target molecule DCDHAQ by reduction in an electrochemical cell or through the course of cycling inside a flow battery cell. Other impurities include the anthrones and dianthrones, such as <NUM>,<NUM>'-(<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxy-<NUM>-oxo-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroanthracene-<NUM>,<NUM>-diyl)diacetic acid, <NUM>,<NUM>'-(<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxy-<NUM>-oxo-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroanthracene-<NUM>,<NUM>-diyl)diacetic acid, <NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>",<NUM>"'-(<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>,<NUM>'-tetrahydroxy-<NUM>,<NUM>'-dioxo-<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>,<NUM>'-tetrahydro-[<NUM>,<NUM>'-bianthracene]-<NUM>,<NUM>',<NUM>,<NUM>'-tetrayl)tetraacetic acid, and related isomers. Generally, the anthrones and dianthrones can be subsequently converted into the target molecule DCDHAQ by oxidation in an electrochemical cell, extended exposure to atmospheric oxygen, or through the course of cycling inside a flow battery cell; reference <NPL>. Consequently, the catholyte solution from this synthesis can be used directly as a flow battery negolyte reactant without any downstream processing, except for some optional concentration through solvent evaporation, to save on costs and cut down on chemical waste. To isolate the product DCDHAQ, the catholyte solution was drained through a filter, exposed to air to fully reoxidize the solution, and refiltered. The filtrate was acidified with <NUM>% hydrochloric acid until pH <<NUM>, and then the precipitated solid was filtered off and dried overnight at <NUM>. The dried solid was orange to dark red upon grinding. Isolated yield: <NUM> grams (<NUM>%), melting point <NUM> - <NUM>. Most of the loss appeared to be from hard nodules of unreacted, undissolved <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone that remained unreacted and were later removed by filtration. The solid can be repurified to ><NUM>% purity of DCDHAQ (HPLC) if so desired by dissolving <NUM> gram of solid in <NUM> of dimethyl sulfoxide, adding <NUM> of deionized water to form a precipitate, followed by filtering the precipitate, washing it with deionized water, and drying. The NMR spectrum of the DCDHAQ produced in this example was identical to the literature; reference <NPL>. <NUM>H NMR (<NUM>, DMSO-d<NUM>) δ <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (dd, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (dd, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (s, <NUM>).

A solution of <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(alpha-hydroxy-carboxymethyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone is first prepared by stirring <NUM> liters of deionized water, <NUM> of <NUM>% NaOH, <NUM> of <NUM>% KOH, <NUM> of <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone, and <NUM> of sodium dithionite under argon for <NUM> minutes at room temperature, then adding a solution of <NUM> of glyoxylic acid monohydrate in <NUM> of solution comprising <NUM> NaOH and <NUM> KOH, this solution being added dropwise over <NUM> minutes using an addition funnel. Once the addition was complete, the reaction mixture was exposed to air and filtered to produce a solution of <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(alpha-hydroxy-carboxymethyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone along with excess NaOH/KOH and other reactants. Separately, as in Example <NUM>, an electrochemical cell ("MP Cell®", ElectroCell North America, Inc. ) with <NUM><NUM> of electrode area was constructed with a graphite felt cathode, a stainless steel anode, Nafion® <NUM> membrane, polypropylene flow frames, EPDM gaskets, a cathode reservoir for holding the catholyte, and an anode reservoir for holding the anolyte. The cathode reservoir had a ~<NUM> liter capacity and was maintained under an inert nitrogen atmosphere to prevent reoxidation of the reaction mixture by atmospheric oxygen, while the anode reservoir had a ~<NUM> liter capacity and was open to the atmosphere. Both reservoirs were equipped with heating elements to heat the anolyte and catholyte as needed. The solution of <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(alpha-hydroxy-carboxymethyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone was then preheated to <NUM> and poured into the cathode reservoir, and maintained under nitrogen. Separately, <NUM> liters of <NUM> NaOH solution was preheated to <NUM> and poured into the anode reservoir, and kept open to the air. The catholyte and anolyte solutions were circulated using pumps to the cathode and anode chambers of the electrochemical cell respectively and electrical current was passed at a constant current density of <NUM> mA/cm<NUM> (<NUM> A total current) while the temperature of the solutions was maintained within a range of <NUM> - <NUM>. The current was stopped when <NUM> molar equivalents of charge (<NUM> Ah) had been passed. Near the end of the experiment, the cell voltage rose sharply from an original value of <NUM> - <NUM> V, where it had been for the majority of the experiment, to <NUM> - <NUM> V. The catholyte was drained from the cathode reservoir, reoxidized by exposure to atmospheric oxygen, and filtered to remove any solids. The filtrate was acidified with <NUM>% HCl until pH ~<NUM>, and the precipitated material was filtered, rinsed with water, and dried. The crude material was redissolved in aqueous KOH, reacidified, re-collected by filtration and washed again with water to give the target molecule <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(carboxymethyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone. Yield with respect to <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone: <NUM> (<NUM>%). Most losses came from incomplete dissolution of <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyanthraquinone that was removed unreacted in the first filtration.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes, amounts, volumes, areas, concentration, times, temperatures, and other chemical and physical properties used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". The use of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers within that range (e.g. <NUM> to <NUM> includes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>; <<NUM>% includes <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, and <NUM>%; ><NUM>% includes <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, and <NUM>%) and any range within that range.

Claim 1:
A system for the (alpha-hydroxy)alkylation or alkylation at the <NUM>-position of an anthraquinone derivative selected from the group consisting of Formula I, Formula II, Formula III and Formula IV:
<CHM>
wherein the anthraquinone of Formula I is unsubstituted in the <NUM>-position, with X representing the <NUM>-position;
the system comprising:
a divided electrolytic cell, further comprising:
a first chamber with a first electrode, configured to accept and have an electrochemical reaction with a first fluid stream comprising an anthraquinone derivative of Formula I, Formula II, Formula III or Formula IV, an aldehyde, a base, and an optional solvent;
a second chamber with a second electrode, configured to accept and have an electrochemical reaction with a second fluid stream;
the first chamber and first electrode separated by an ion-conducting membrane from the second chamber and second electrode.