6-dicarboxylate with benzene cis-diol gave dihydrodiol containing the 1,4-dihydropyridazine ring. Attempts at oxidation of the dihydropyridazine ring with PIFA and MnO2 resulted in the formation of 5- and 5,6-dihydroxy-phthalazine derivatives. The oxidation of the dihydropyridazine ring was achieved by way of photooxygenation. The phthalazine type dihydrodiol is unstable and easily undergoes aromatization