Diketone II b and smaH amounts of 1, 4-bls (3, 4-dlmethoxy-2~ rophenyl)-7-hydroxy- &mathoxy-3H-2-benzopyran-3-one (III) were obtained by oxidation of trans-1, 3-bls (4, 5- dimethoxy-2-nltrophenyl)-5, f)-dlmethoxylndane (Ib) prepared by nltratlon of Ia. Compound IIb treated with hydrazine hydrate afi orded the corresponding 1, rl-dlarylphthaiazhe V. The compounds were characterized by mlcroanalysis and NMR, IR, and mass-spectrai data.
