Heteroannulated-9,10-anthracenediones. The synthesis of substituted 5- and 7-chloroanthra[1,9-cd]pyrazol-6(2H)-ones,precursors to anticancer anthrapyrazoles

Synthetic methodologies to a number of 5- and 7-chloroanthra[1,9-cd|pyrazol-6(2H)-ones, 4 and 37 respectively, optionally substituted with side chains at N-2 and dioxy substituents in the A ring, are reported. Reported also are detailed uv, ir and ¹H-nmr spectroscopy for representative compounds.