The synthesis of a wide variety of 9-substituted-3-oxo-3 H-2, 9-dihydropyridazino [3, 4, 5-de] phthalazines (11) was achieved by treatment of 3-substituted-3, 4-dihydro-4-oxophthalazine- 5-carboxylic esters (10) with hydrazine hydrate. These esters were prepared from 3- hydroxyphthalide-7-carboxylic acid (7) by two different routes. Under basic conditions, alkylation of 3-oxo-3 H-2, 9-dihydropyridazino [3, 4, 5-de] phthalazine (1) gave 9- ...