Abstract Continuing our ongoing studies on cytotoxic substances, we report the synthesis and cytotoxic properties of a series of symmetric 1, 5-diamino-9, 10-anthraquinones with potentially bioreducible groups. Symmetric amination of 1, 5-dichloro-9, 10-anthraquinone with the appropriate primary amines in the presence of DMF furnished the structurally related aminoanthraquinone analogs 1–19. Their in vitro cytotoxic activity was evaluated ...