Abstract: Naturally occurring anthraquinones, damnacanthal (1) and nordamnacanthal (2) were synthesized with modified reaction steps and investigated for their cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 and K-562 cancer cell lines, respectively. Intermediate analogues 2-bromomethyl- 1, 3-dimethoxyanthraquinone (5, IC 50= 5.70±0.21 and 8.50±1.18 μg/mL), 2-hydroxymethyl- 1, 3-dimethoxyanthraquinone (6, IC 50= 12.10±0.14 and 14.00±2.13), 2-formyl-1, 3- ...