achieved according to the scheme shown in Fig. 5. Grignard reaction of 3,4-methylenedioxy-phenylmagnesium bromide with [14C]carbon dioxide liberated from barium [14C]carbonate ((UNDERLINE)6(/UNDERLINE)) gave the acid ((UNDERLINE)5(/UNDERLINE)). Reduction of (UNDERLINE)5(/UNDERLINE) with lithiumaluminumhydride followed by oxidation of the resulting benzyl alcohol ((UNDERLINE)11(/UNDERLINE)) with chromium