Selective introducing of aryl and amino groups: reaction of benzanthrone and organometallic reagents

The reaction of benzanthrone and aryl magnesium bromides produced 6-aryl-substituted benzanthrones in moderate to good yields. Similarly, 6-alkylaminobenzanthrones were selectively prepared by the reaction of benzanthrone and lithium alkylamides. In contrast, for the lithium arylamides, the arylamino groups were selectively introduced at the 4-position of the benzanthrone.