The little compound 1a has been prepared and was found to be a strong, orally active agonist with narcotic--antagonist properties. 1a was prepared by two independent routes: (1) nitration of volazocine and subsequent reduction and (b) a sequence involving dissolving metal reduction of cyclazocine methyl ether, followed by oximination and Semmler--Wolff rearrangement. Several analogues were prepared and tested.