binding to Na+,K+-ATPase, is described. The key step involved a cyclization to the isoquinoline ring under Pictet-Gams conditions which was best performed with the 6-hydroxy group protected as the benzylether. When an unsaturated ester group was present in position 4 of the 1-benzyl group, this was best introduced before the cyclization step, since the IIeck reaction on 1-(4-bromobenzyl)-6-hydroxyisoquinoline