Condensation of 2,4-di-O-benzoylphloroglucinaldehyde (I) with omega-acetoxy-3,4-diacetoxyacetophenone (II) in the presence of HCl gives the 5,7-dibenzoyloxy-3-hydroxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-benzopyrylium chloride (III), which is subsequently hydrolyzed with NaOH and finally treated with HCl.