The syntheses of 11- and 10-nitronoracronycine (10 and 11) from 1,3-dihydroxy-10-methyl-5-nitroacridinone (7) or 1,3-dihydroxy-10-methyl-6-nitroacridinone (8), respectively, and 2-chloro-2-methyl-3-butyne are reported. In screening tests with the transplantation tumor leukemia P 388 10, 11, 7 and 1,3-dimethoxy-10-methyl-6-nitroacridinone showed cytotoxicity. 8 and 1,3-dimethoxy-10-methyl-nitroacridinone (5) proved to be inactive.