Abstract Procedures were developed for the heterocyclization of 2-benzoylethynyl-1-hydroxy- and 1-hydroxy-2-(1-oxo-3-phenylpropynyl) anthraquinone. The regioselective preparation of 2-substituted anthra [1, 2-b] pyran-4, 7, 12-triones was demonstrated to be possible under mild conditions.
