The isomer (9H-quino[4,3,2-de][1,7]phenanthroline-9-one) (2) of the marine alkaloid ascididemin (9H-quino[4,3,2-de][1,10]phenanthroline-9-one) (1) has been synthesized in six steps from 1,4-dimethoxyacridine (10) with an overall yield of 12%. Different related compounds were prepared and tested in