Studies on simplified ergoline derivatives. A general six‐step synthesis of phenyl‐substituted 4‐methyl‐3,4,4a,5,6,10b‐hexahydrobenzo[f]quinolin‐1‐(2H)‐one analogs

This communication outlines the development of a novel, general synthetic route to substituted α‐tetralones 5, their subsequent conversion to the α,β‐unsaturated ketones 11, and an improved, one‐step transformation of 11 to the tricyclic title compounds 1. Thus, substituted derivatives of 1 can be prepared in six steps from simple benzaldehydes, or, in three steps from more readily available α‐tetralones.