anhydro-3-Hydroxy-2-phenylthiazolo [2, 3-a] phthalizinium hydroxide, prepared from 1 (W)- phthalazinethione and a-bromophenylacetyl chloride or by Ac20/EtN ring closure of S-(1- phthalaziny1)-a-phenylthioglycolic acid, and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in refluxing xylene (17 h) gave dimethyl 4-oxo-3-phenyl-4H-pyrido [2, 1-a] phthalazine-1, 2- dicarboxylate (85%). Fumaronitrile gave the corresponding 1, 2-dicyano product (93%), ...