The scope of Bischler-Napieralskireaction has now been extended to include acyl cyclo-hexa-1:4-dienylethylamide types, which cyclise smoothly to yield various isoquinolines after dehydrogenation. 1-(2-Nitro-3:4-dimethoxybenzyl)-3:4-dihydroisoquinoline, hitherto difficultly accessible, could be prepared and converted to rac.-apomorphine dimethyl ether.