4-Fluorocyclohexa-2,5-dienones as new acceptors for the Hauser annulation

4-Fluorocyclohexa-2,5-dienones are introduced as new acceptors for the Hauser annulation. In cases where the corresponding methoxy analogs fail to undergo annulation, the former smoothly do so with phenylsulfonyl phthalides to furnish anthraquinones in good yields. Steric effects are implicated to explain the inertness of the methoxy analogs.