Knoevenagel condensation of ketone (I) with ethyl cyanoacetate followed by Michael addition of cyanoacetamide to the resulting alpha-cyanocinnamate (IIa-b) yields cyclic imide (III). Hydrolysis and decarboxylation of (III) with H2SO4 gives diacid (IV), which is cyclized by means of hot H2SO4 to provide indanone (V). Treatment of (V) with oxalyl chloride in CH2Cl2 and catalytic DMF followed by addition of EtOH affords ethyl ester (VI), which is then converted into oxime (VII) by means of t-BuONO in Et2O and HCl. Hydrogenolysis of (VII) with H2 over Pd/C in HOAc/HCl provides alpha-amino derivative (VIII). By reacting (VIII) with ethyl oxalyl chloride (A), in CH2Cl2 in presence of Et3N, (IX) was obtained and then cyclized in presence of NH4OAc in refluxing HOAc to yield pyrazino derivative (X). Finally (X) is hydrolyzed with HCl in dioxane.