Highly strained dihydroanthraquinones: oxidation versus elimination

The chemistry of strained dihydroanthraquinones was investigated for the purpose of developing syntheses for highly strained anthraquinones. The reaction of (1,4-dihydro-9,10-dioxo-anthracen-1-yl)-acetates with triethylamine under aerobic conditions was found to be dependent on the degree of substitution on the acetate. Dihydroanthraquinones bearing dimethylacetates underwent elimination of enolate exclusively, while those without acetate substitution dehydrogenated as expected. Furthermore, oxidation of the cyclohexadiene ring using iodine failed due to a competitive iodolactonization reaction. The desired strained anthraquinones could be prepared, in low yield, by treatment of the resulting lactones with acidic ethanol.