A convenient synthesis of (±)9-demethoxyeleutherin and (±)9-demethoxyisoeleutherin, the analogues of naturally occurring pyranonaphthoquinone antibiotics eleutherin and isoeleutherin, is described. The synthesis was achieved from 4-methoxy-1-napthol in four simple steps including Claisen rearrangement and oxymercuration–demercuration reactions.