The synthesis and nucleophilic substitution of haloxanthones

Acylation reaction of m‐cresol with 2,6‐dihalobenzoic acid in the presence of methansulfonic acid and subsequently, cyclization of the obtained o‐hydroxybenzophenones with K₂CO₃/dimethyl formamide, afforded haloxanthones 4 and 5 in high yields. Aromatic nucleophilic substitution of the resulted haloxanthones with O‐, N‐ and S‐nucleophiles are studied in a comparative manner, and various new O‐, N‐ and S‐substituted xanthones have obtained.