Alkylation of the potassium salt of 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethoxybenzene with 2-(2-bromoethy1)piperidine yielded the bis-en01 ether I, which, on acid hydrolysis, afforded the crystalline vinylogous a~n i d e 11. Lithium aluminium hydride reduction of I1 gave two isomers of 1,2,3,4,4a,5.6,6a,8,9,10,10a-dodecahydro-7H-be1o[c]quioii-7-oie (111). A similar series of reactions starting with 1-(2-chloroethyl)-6-methoxy-l,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoli1~e hydrochloride (V) gave two isoniers of 2,3,4, &, 6,7,11b,12,13,13a-decahydro-l)-mcthoxy-1H-di-In an earlier report (1) we described some nitrogen-containing tricyclic analogues of 18-nor-D-homoestrone having anti-inflammatory activity. This pharmacological finding prompted us to prepare some of the corresponding tetracyclic analogues. The preparation of two isomers of 2,3,4,4a,6,7,11b,12,13,13a-decahydro-9-1nethoxy-1H-dibenzo[a,f]-quinolizin-1-one (8-aza-D-homo-18-norestrone inethyl ether) (IX) is the subject of this paper.A number of years ago we (2) prepared 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-6-methoxy-l,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (IV) in anticipation of utilizing it a s a n intermediate in the preparation of IX. At the outset of the present work we utilized the more readily available 2-(2-11ydroxyethyl)piperidine (3) as a model of IV in our effort to elaborate two additional rings corresponding to the C and D rings of a steroid.2-(2-Hydroxyethy1)piperidine was converted t o 2-(2-broinoethy1)piperidine hydrobromide in 83% yield using hot 48% hydrobroinic acid. Conversion of 2-(2-hydroxyethy1)piperidine hydrobromide t o the corresponding 2-bromoethyl derivative was also effected using phosphorus tribromide (29y0 yield) or thionyl bromide (69y0 yield).Alkylation of the potassium salt of 1,4-dihydro-2,G-diinethoxybenzene (4) with 2-(2-bromoethy1)piperidine in liquid ammonia proceeded smoothly, giving 2-[2-(1,4-dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]piperidine (I). Hydrolysis of the bis-en01 ether was accompanied by cyclization of the intermediate dilietone, yielding the tricyclic vin\-logous amide 11 in 71y0 yield. Treatment of I1 with lithium aluminium hydride resulted in a net reduction of the carbon-carbon double bond, thereby giving a crystalline isomer (isomer A) of 111 in 44y0 yield and a liquid believed to represent a second isomer (isomer B) of I11 in 36(& yield. The two isomers were characterized a s their picrates. Lithium aluininium hydride reduction of vinylogous ainides may lead t o loss of the carbonyl oxygen ( 5 , 6) or t o the production of aminoalcohols or aminoltetones (7-9).The conversion of I1 to 111 can be pictured as a 1,4-reduction or a 1,2-reduction followed by hydrolysis of the ellanline to a 3-hydroxycyclohexenone, elimination of water, and finally a AIichael addition of the nitrogen t o the intermediate 2-substituted cyclohexenone. On the basis of a closely related example (9), the l,4-reduction rnechanisnl is t o be preferred.