Abstract An improved route to the title compound is described and its potential as precursor to a variety of quinone derivatives, including analogues of the anthracycline antitumor agents, clearly illustrated by conversion to various 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-5, 8-dimethoxy-1-
![7,7-dichloro-2,5-dimethoxybicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-triene Structure](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/208/75833-44-2.png)