Method for producing anthracenes

A method for producing an anthracene of formula (II):

• wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrocarbon group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, an aralkyloxycarbonyl group, or an amino group optionally substituted with a hydrocarbon group;
• and n and m each independently represent an integer of 0 to 4,
• which method comprises the steps of:
• (a) reacting a metal hydride with an anthraquinone of (I):
• wherein R1, R2, m and n represent the same as defined above, and (b) reacting the resulting reaction mixture in step (a) with a primary alcohol.