A new route to anthraquinones

The lithium salts derived from position 3 of phthalides react with arynes to form adducts, which, upon aerial oxidation, produce anthraquinones in moderate to good yields. Substituted phthalides and arynes also participate in this general reaction. The addition to unsymmetrically substituted arynes shows regioselectivity, whilst the availability of a new general route to phthalides extends the scope of this reaction.