The xanthone skeleton constitutes the core of an important natural and biologically active family of compounds present in higher plants and microorganisms. 5, 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d One of the most employed strategies to access to xanthones involves a S N Ar reaction from conveniently substituted benzophenones. In this context, 2,2′-dihydroxybenzophenones, 2-alkoxy-2′-hydroxybenzophenones and 2,2′-dialkoxybenzophenones have been the substrates of choice. 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, ...