Abstract
3-Hydroxypyridine (Ia) and its 6-methyl analogue (Ib) react with the benzyne precursor (IV) to give 1-azabenzoisocoumarins (IIa,b); the latter reaction also yielded 6,7-benzo-5-methyl-8-phenyl-8-azaicyclo[3,2,1]-oct-3-en-2-one (III) as a by-product.