ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 40, Number 7
JKCSEZ 40(7)
February 20, 1996 

3-Carbomethoxy-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone(9) underwent condensation with α,β-unsaturated esters 3a-b to produce the corresponding naphthacene-6,7-diones 11a-b with high yields in one pot procedure. Among the naphthacene-6,7-diones formed, compound 11a without an ethyl group at C-9 position was oxidized to give the naphthacene-5,12-dione 13a, while compound 11b containing the ethyl group was oxidized to give a 3:2 mixture of the naphthacene-5,7,12-trione 12b and naphthacene-5,12-dione 13b under the same experimental conditions.