Carbanion-mediated general regioselective routes to acridones 4 (Table 2) and dibenzo [b, f] azepinones 20 (Table 4) are described. Buchwald− Hartwig C− N cross coupling of o-halo benzamides 1 with anilines 2 or 16, followed by simple N-methylation, dependably provides N-methyl diarylamines 3 (Table 1) and 18 (Table 3). Upon treatment with LDA, 3 and 18 are converted into acridones 4 and dibenzo [b, f] azepinones 20, respectively, in good to ...