Many benz(a)anthracene derivatives are able to produce cancer in the experimental animal. There is a correlation between the calculated total electronic charge of the K-region and this carcinogenic activity. There is also ample proof that benz(a)anthracene derivatives are honed to the skin through quinoid type bonds in the K"region. However, the prediction of physiological activity of benz(a)anthracenes is still unreliable because of the limitations of the theoretical model described by existing theories.

The purpose of this work was to synthesize some substituted benz(a)anthracenes with a shielded K-region and with a different L-region electron density than in 7-phenyl-bena(a)anthracene in the hope of increasing our knowledge regarding molecular structure-physiological relationship.