hydroxyhydrolapachol (IIa) and lapachol (I) are reported. Treatment of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone with succinyl peroxide gave the carboxyethyl compound (IVa) which was esterified to give the ethyl ester (IVb). Reductive acetylation of this gave a triacetate (VI) which upon treatment with methylmagnesium iodide, and oxidation of the resulting product, gave hydroxyhydrolapachol. Repeating the reductive acetylation step