Novel 2-hydroxy-3-nitro-1, 4-naphthoquinones were synthesized by an improved method utilizing nitronium tetrafluoroborate in high yields. A subsequent conversion to 2-chloro-3- nitro-1, 4-naphthoquinones and a substitution of the chlorine by hydroxyquinone anions yielded 3-nitro-2, 2'-binaphthoquinones with a complete regiocontrol.