It has been shown' that a portion of the molec- ular structure of cularine includes the 10,ll- dihydrodibem [bJJoxepin nucleus and on ex- haustive metbylation yields a derivative of dibenz[b,f]oxepin (I). Oxidation of the latter ... I I1 yielded the expected dibasic acid but there was alsa obtained abut lo?& of a compound formu- lated as a xanthone derivative. Since there came to mind no simple syntheses of a highly substituted xanthone it was of interest to prepare model ...