A clean synthesis of pyranopyrazolones is described. The reactions of 4-chloro-3-(1- chlorovinyl)-6-methyl-2-pyrone with arylhydrazines give pyrano [4, 3-c] pyrazol-4 (2H)-ones as the only identified products. However, the isomeric pyrano [4, 3-c] pyrazol-4 (1H)-ones have been isolated when alkylhydrazines were used. Unambiguous assignment of structure could be achieved by homonuclear 1 H {1 H} NOE determinations.