Transformation of 1-(acyl)(2-haloethyl)amino-9,10-anthraquinones into 1-(2-acyloxyethylamino)-9,10-anthraquinones

Acylation of 1-(2-haloethylamino)-9,10-anthraquinones gave 1-[(2-haloethyl)(aroyl, hetaroyl, or acetyl)amino]-9,10-anthraquinones which were converted into the corresponding 1-[2-(aroyloxy, hetaroyloxy, or acetoxy)ethylamino]-9,10-anthraquinone on keeping in dimethylformamide. According to the experimental data (including those obtained by kinetic study), the transformation involves intramolecular migration of the acyl group through aziridinium or oxazolidinium intermediates.