Classic syntheses of benzophenones rely on reactions of aryllithium or magnesium reagents with aldehydes and subsequent oxidation 3a and 7 and on Friedel–Crafts acylations. 8 The application of these methods to the synthesis of functionalized benzophenones (eg, containing a hydroxy, halide or ester group) can result in competing side reactions. Recently, we reported 4 the synthesis of 4-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)salicylates by domino 'Michael-retro-Michael- ...