Of the four alkaloids isolated from the seeds of P. harmala, harmine constitutes the major component, the other three occurring as minor constituents. One of these is shown to be harmaline, the second minor base being deoxyvascinone, the third one being under characterization though its spectral analyses suggest it to be a 2 alkoxyquinolone derivative. A new synthesis of deoxyvascinone has been achieved from anthranilic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid. During this synthesis another product is also obtained for which a plausible structure has been postulated from spectral evidences. © 1968.