The transition-metal mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition 1 of a 1,2-bis(propiolyl)benzene 1 with a monoalkyne is a convergent and straightforward route to substituted anthraquinone frameworks (Scheme 1). Such a potentially useful anthraquinone annulation was first realized by means of the reaction of isolated naphthoquinone-fused rhodacyclopentadiene complexes with monoalkynes, 2 and direct coupling of diketodiyne 1c and monoalkynes was ...