Novel heterocyclic alkaloids (4 and 6), potential synthetic precursors of 20(S)-camptothecin (2), are synthesized by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone oxidation of tetraacetyl-18,19-dihydrovincoside (18,19-H2-1a) and -iso-vincoside (18,19-H2-1c) lactams and their corresponding pentaacetyl-18,19-dihydroquinolols (18,19-H2-3). © 1976, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.