The Oppenauer oxidation of (±) ophiocarpine has been carried out to yield 3-(2′-vinyl-3′,4′-methylenedioxy) phenyl-4-hydroxyisoquinoline (2). Photolysis of this compound gave 3,4-dimethoxy-11,12-methylenedioxy-8,9-dihydro[1]benzoxepino(2,3-c) isoquinoline (7), whereas photolysis of the methyl ether of 2 produced N-norchelerythrine.