Direct displacement of chlorine atoms by alkoxides on chlorinated anthraquinones

The reaction of 1-chloro-, 2-chloro-, 1,5-dichloro-, 1,8-dichloro-, 1-hydro xy-4-chloro-, 1-hydroxy-2,4-dichloro- and 1,4-dihydroxy-5-chloro-9, 10-anth raquinones with 2-ethoxyethanol activated by fluoride anion in the presence of alumina affords reasonable to high yields of the corresponding mono- an d dialkoxy derivatives.