The synthesis of 1-hydroxy-10, 12-dimethoxy-8-vinyl-6 H-benzo [d] naphtho [1, 2 b] pyran-6- one 7, starting from vanillin and 1, 5-dihydroxynaphthalene is described. This compound is the aglycone of the antitumor antibiotic ravidomycin and is identical with the recently reported antimicrobial agent, defucogilvocarcin V.