5-Iodoanthranilic acid (I) was converted to ethyl ester (II) (1), which was subsequently reacted with ethoxysuccinyl chloride (III) to furnish the amide (IV). Dieckmann cyclization of (IV) using KH produced ketoester (V), and further dealkoxycarbonylation by heating in wet DMSO gave rise to benzazepinedione (VI). After formation of the corresponding hydrazone (VIII) with 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylhydrazine (VII), Fisher indole synthesis yielded the paulone system (IX). The Heck reaction of (IX) with acrylonitrile in the presence of palladium catalyst gave adduct (X). The target saturated analogue was finally prepared by refluxing the acrylonitrile derivative (X) with Mg in MeOH.