The reaction of 6-isopropyl-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-carbonitrile (I) with morpholine (A) and DMF in hot water gives 2-amino-6-isopropyl-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxaldehyde (II), which is cyclized with ethyl cyanoacetate (III) by means of piperidine (B) in refluxing ethanol yielding ethyl 2-amino-7-isopropyl-1-azaxanthone-3-carboxylate (IV). Finally, this compound is saponified by a treatment with sulfuric acid in refluxing acetic acid water.