The camptothecin analogues (+-)-7-ethyl-10-methoxy-20-deoxyaminocamptothecin (2) and (+-)-7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-20-deoxyaminocamptothecin.HCl (3) were synthesized from indolizine compound 4 via Friedländer condensation to construct a pentacyclic ring system, and were tested in a P388 mouse antileukemia assay. Compounds 2 and 3 were more active and less toxic than (+)-camptothecin (1), and therefore had higher therapeutic ratios.