Studies directed towards total synthesis of saframycin: I. A synthesis of hexahydro-1,5-imino-3-benzazocin-7,10-dione.

A short-step synthesis of $\text{2}$, the right-hand half of antibiotic saframycin ($\text{1}$), is described. The key steps of this synthesis are the acid catalyzed intramolecular double cyclization of $\text{4}$ and the oxidative demethylation of $\text{7}$ to the quinone ($\text{2}$).