The xanthone 8 results from the base catalysed self-condensation of the chromone 1. The chromone 2 gives the xanthones 9 and 11 with sodium and DMF-POCl3 respectively, phenol 14 with NaOMe, and the pyran 22 with 2-thiomethylchromone 6. The enamine 16 on Vilsmeier-Haak reaction affords the chloroxanthone 12. The pyran 15, isolated as a byproduct from the reaction of ω-acetyl-2-hydroxyacetophenone with HC(OEt)3-Ac2O, affords the xanthone 13 by refluxing with NaOMe in MeOH. © 1993.