Recently, Clarke and Robertson3 attempted to demethylate khellin by the action of hydriodic acid but did not succeed in obtaining the parent 5, 8-dihydroxy-2-methyl-furo-4', 5 '-6, 7- chromone (Ia). We have obtained this substance by heating khellin with magnesium iodide in the absence of a solvent, followed by hydrolysis with dilute sulfuric acid. Ia forms yellow crystals, soluble in alkali; on methylation with diazomethane in the presence of methyl ...