8 shown in Scheme I. Fries rearrangement of resorcinol diacetate (la) with ferric chloride provided 4, 6-diacetylresorcinol (2a): l albeit in moderate yield. Brief treatment of 4, 6- diacetylresorcinol (2) in 2-methoxyethanol with hydrazine hydrate gave bishydrazone 3. Attempts to convert isolated 3 to benzodipyrazole 4a were not successful. Benzodipyrazole 4a was best prepared directly from 2a by treatment with hydrazine hydrate in 2- ...