an efficient synthesis of the 1,l'-dihydroxy-2,2'-(thiodimethy1ene)bis-9(10h)- anthrone (5) is described. reaction of 1 -methoxy-2-(bromomethy1)-9,loanthraquinone (1) with excess sodium sulfide in ethanol, demethylation to the corresponding hydroxy and subsequent selective reduction produced the title compound in high yield.