Abstract: There is presented a process for the manufacture of hexahydronaphthacene derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## wherein one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom and the other represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together represent a protected oxo group, R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy or acyloxy group and R.sup.4 represents a lower alkyl or esterified carboxy group or a group of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together form an oxo group or a protected oxo group and X represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy or acyloxy group or ##STR3## in which n stands for 1 or 2 and Y represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or acyl group.Also presented are certain of the novel derivatives per se and various novel intermediates in the process.

Abstract: There is presented a process for the manufacture of hexahydronaphthacene derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## wherein one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom and the other represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together represent a protected oxo group, R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy or acyloxy group and R.sup.4 represents a lower alkyl or esterified carboxy group or a group of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together form an oxo group or a protected oxo group and X represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy or acyloxy group or--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --OY bin which n stands for 1 or 2 and Y represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or acyl group.Also presented are certain of the novel derivatives per se and various novel intermediates in the process.

Abstract: There is presented a process for the manufacture of hexahydronaphthacene derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## wherein one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom and the other represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together represent a protected oxo group, R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy or acyloxy group and R.sup.4 represents a lower alkyl or esterified carboxy group or a group of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together form an oxo group or a protected oxo group and X represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy or acyloxy groupor ##STR3## in which n stands for 1 or 2 and Y represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or acyl group.Also presented are certain of the novel derivatives per se and various novel intermediates in the process.

Abstract: There is presented a process for the manufacture of hexahydronaphthacene derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## wherein one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom and the other represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together represent a protected oxo group, R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy or acyloxy group and R.sup.4 represents a lower alkyl or esterified carboxy group or a group of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together form an oxo group or a protected oxo group and X represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy or acyloxy group or ##STR3## in which n stands for 1 or 2 and Y represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or acyl group.Also presented are certain of the novel derivatives per se and various novel intermediates in the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to naphthacene derivatives. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a process for the manufacture of hexahydronaphthacene derivatives and with certain of said derivatives per se. The invention is also concerned with novel intermediates occurring in said process and with the preparation thereof.There are presented hexahydronaphthacene derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a lower alkyl or esterified carboxy group or a group of the formula ##STR2## , in which R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together form an oxo group or a protected oxo group and X represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy or acyloxy group, or--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --OY bin which n stands for 1 or 2 and Y represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or acyl group.Also presented are intermediates and a process to produce the compounds of formula I.