5, 6-Dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) is a novel anticancer agent with a number of unique activities, and is in clinical trial. The current synthesis of DMXAA involves six steps, beginning with a heterogeneous reaction to form an isonitrosoacetanilide, and gives an overall yield of 11% from 2, 3-dimethylaniline. We report an alternative synthesis of the key intermediate 3, 4-dimethylanthranilic acid via nitration of 3, 4-dimethylbenzoic acid and ...
