Abstract The synthesis of N-[2-(1-naphthyl) ethyl] succinimide, N-[2-(1-naphthyl) ethyl] pyrrolidone and the corresponding 3, 4-dihydro compounds is described. The pyrrolidones have been converted into 11, 12, 16, 17-tetrahydro-13-azacyclopenta [a] phenanthrene and 6, 7, 11-12, 16, 17-hexahydro-13-azacyclopenta [a] phenanthrene. These two compounds were then converted to XIX and XXII. The former compound is a salt of (+) 3-desoxy-17- ...