The following phenanthrene-l, 4-diones have been synthesized by using the photocyclization of the corresponding highly substituted stilbenes as the key step: 3-hydroxy- 5, 7, 8-trimethyl-2-(prop-2-enyl) phenanthrene- 1, 4-dione (l),(RS)-,(R)-, and (S)-2-[3-hydroxy- 5, 7, 8-trimethyl-1, 4-dioxophenanthren-2-y1]-1-methylethyl acetate (2, 31, and 32, resp.), 3- hydroxy-7, 8-dimethyl-2-(prop-2-enyl) phenanthrene-1, 4-dione (3), 3-hydroxy-7, 8, 10-tri- ...