A short and efficient protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of racemic trans-and cis-3, 4- dihydro-3, 4, 8-trihydroxynaphthalen-1 (2H)-one (1 and 2, resp.), is described, comprising nine and eight steps starting from commercial juglone (ž 5-hydroxynaphthalene-1, 4-dione; 12)(Scheme 4). Furthermore, an attempt to obtain 1 and 2 via phthalide annulation as the key step (Schemes 2 and 3) and a regioselective oxidation of the intermediate 1, 2, 3, 4- ...