The internal Diels-Alder reaction of benzocyclobutenes (via quinodimethanes) has been exploited for heterocyclic systems on numerous occasions,'as has been the imino-Diels- Alder reaction, 2 but the generation of both reactive intermediates at the same time (eg, 9) has not yet been attempted. Construction of an appropriate precursor for the application of this route to the synthesis of Praziquantel (l), a well-known drug for the treatment of schist~ ...