Anthraquinone dye intermediates as precursors of aklavinone-type anthracyclinones

The commercially available dye intermediates 1-hydroxyanthraquinone, 1-amino-2-methylanthraquinone and 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (chrysazin) have been elaborated in a regiospecific manner into tetracyclic ketonitriles. The latter are potential precursors of the anthracycline aglycone aklavinone and its 4-deoxy analog1