The reaction of peri-substituted anthracenediones with sodium dithionite in dimethylformamide and water has been investigated. The system selectively reduces the carbonyl group flanked by the peri substituents of the anthracenediones to give the corresponding 4, 5-disubstituted 9 (10 H)-anthracenones and thus provides a route to anthracenones which are otherwise difficult to obtain. Many functional groups can be ...
