The new oxoisoaporphines 7H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-7-one, 5-methoxy-7H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-7-one, 5-methoxy-6-hydroxy-7H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-7-one, 5-hydroxy-7H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-7-one and 5-methoxy-6H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-6-one were prepared either by oxidation of their 2,3-dihydro derivatives or by heating (2'-(3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinolin-1'-yl)phenyl)methylbenzoate with an acetic acid/sulfuric acid mixture at 100 degrees C. The structures were confirmed and 1H and 13C NMR spectra were completely assigned using two-dimensional NMR techniques. CI - Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.