In connection with another problem, the need arose for a supply of olivacine.'A slight modification of Moody's synthesis2 of ellipticine (8) appeared to be most attractive because of its brevity and the availability of starting materials. Pyranoindolone 63 should react with triazene 4 to give olivacine (9), perhaps accompanied by its regioisomer. Ethyl 3-acetyl-2- methylisonicotinate (1)(Scheme I) was obtained by refluxing ethyl 3-(ethoxymethylene)-2, ...
