Abstract Synthetic routes have been developed which lead to ring-hydroxylated aza- analogues of antitumor anthrapyrazoles, namely, 2, 5-bis [(aminoalkyI) amino] substituted 10- hydroxymdazolo [3, 4-fg] isoquinolin-6 (2H)-ones 1 and 7-hydroxyindazolo [4, 3-gh] isoquinolin-6 (2H)-ones 2. The regiospecific synthesis of 6, 9-dihalo-4-hydroxybenz [g] isoquinolines 3 and 4 has been accomplished. Intermediate 3 was constructed in a ...