To a solution of 1.0 g (2.52 mmol) of 2-benzyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benz[e]isoindole, from Step 5, in 22 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane was added 0.11 g (0.05 mmol) of 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)-naphthalene and 0.33 mL (3.15 mmol) of 1-chloroethyl chloroformate at 0° C. The solution was heated to reflux for 2 h and the solvent removed in vacuo. The residue was filtered through silica gel eluted with 25% ethyl acetate in hexanes. After concentration under reduced pressure, methanol (20 mL) was added and the solution was heated to reflux for 30 minutes, before the solvent was removed in vacuo. The product was crystallized from ethanol/ether to give 0.46 g. (75% yield) of 6,7-dimethoxy-4-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benz[e]isoindole hydrochloride as a white solid.; MS DCI: 308 (M+H)+ ; 1H NMR (d6 -DMSO) δ: 3.05-3.25 (m, 2H), 3.55 (s, 3H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 3.88 (m, 1H), 4.0-4.15 (m, 2H), 4.25-4.45 (m, 2H), 6.91 (m, 1H), 7.15-7.3 (m, 3H), 7.4-7.6 (m, 3H).
