Alkylation of the Reissert compound 1 by methyl 2-bromomethylbenzoate
(2) followed by spontaneous intramolecular cyclization affords dibenzo
[a, g]quinolizinone 4 which in turn can be reduced to benzyl ether 5 b
y LiAlH4/NaBH4. Debenzylation of 5 by ethanolic HCl furnishes the titl
e compound 6 in improved total yield.