" C) produced primarily the undesired seven-membered ring ketones 23 and 24, respectively. Demethylation of methoxy ketones 19 and 21 followed by successive reduction, dehydration, and acetylation afforded the key intermediates 25 and 26. The second method involves bromination of the trimethylsilyl cyanide derivative 27 of 7, 8, 9, 10- tetrahydrobenzo [a] pyren-7-one followed by removal of the protecting group. l-Bromo-7, 8, ...