Unexpected behaviour of the oxidizing agent sodium m-nitrobenzenesulfonate: Synthesis of a new class of 5-hydroxy benzopyrano-[4,3-c]pyridazin-3(2H)-ones

Sodium m-nitrobenzene sulfonate, widely used in dehydrogenation of 4,5-dihydro-3(2H)-pyridazinones to their corresponding aromatic derivatives, behaves in an unexpected way when 4,4a-dihydro-5H[1]benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyridazin-3(2H)-ones are employed as substrate. The synthesis of a new class of 5-hydroxy[1]benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyridazin-3(2H)-ones is described.