Site-selective Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of the bis(triflate) of 1,3-dihydroxyanthraquinone

Various aryl-substituted anthraquinones were prepared by palladium(0)-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of the bis(triflate) of 1,3-dihydroxyanthraquinone. A very good site-selectivity in favor of position 1 was observed which can be explained by the electronic influence of the neighboring carbonyl group.