Studies on the benzo[1,2]cyclohepta[3,4,5‐d,e]isoquinoline ring system

Abstract
The syntheses of various oxidation states of the novel benzo[1, 2]cyclohepta[3, 4, 5‐d, e]‐isoquinoline ring system is described. The ring system was obtained by the Schmidt rearrangement, with exclusive alkyl migration, of 1, 6, 7, 11b‐tetrahydro ‐ 2H ‐ dibenz‐[cd,h]azulen‐2‐one and by a Bischler‐Napieralski reaction of suitable derivatives of 10, 11‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenzo[a, d]cycloheptene ‐ 5 ‐ methylamine. 4, 5, 10, 11 ‐ Tetramethoxy derivatives of the new ring system were best prepared by a Pictet‐Spengler reaction of the appropriate amine.