The first examples of azomethine ylides derived from allylic amine and glyoxal precursors are reported. The condensation of primary allylic and α-aryl amines with glyoxylates or α-aryl glyoxals affords conjugated azomethine ylides that undergo facile [3 + 2] cycloaddition, providing 5-alkenyl pyrrolidine cycloadducts that cannot be accessed through the classical use of amino esters as ylide precursors.

A concise, enantioselective total synthesis of the Lycopodium alkaloid (−)-lyconadin C was achieved in 12 steps and high overall yield. Key features include construction of a luciduline congener through Mannich-type cyclization and a one-pot, tandem Curtius rearrangement/6π-electrocyclization to fashion the 2-pyridone system of lyconadin C.

An efficient iodine-mediated oxidation of tetrahydro-β-carbolines is described to yield aromatic β-carboline products with tandem C–H oxidation. The utility of the method was demonstrated in total syntheses of the alkaloids eudistomins Y1–Y7.

A concise entry to functionalized indolizidine scaffolds through a domino 2-aza-Cope-[3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition and Pauson–Khand [2 + 2 + 1] cyclization has been accomplished. The process was conducted under mild conditions to afford diverse indolizidine systems as single diastereomers in good overall yields.

The stereoselective synthesis of a diverse set of functionalized indolizidine systems has been accomplished through the aza-Prins cyclization of 2-allylpyrrolidines. The condensation of aldehydes onto 2-allylpyrrolidines yields iminium ions that undergo highly diastereoselective aza-Prins cyclization, producing up to two stereogenic centers and two new rings in one step.

A one-pot multicomponent procedure for the synthesis of highly functionalized pyrrolidine rings through a domino 2-aza-Cope-[3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition sequence has been demonstrated. This protocol was found to be both high-yielding and stereoselective for the endo cycloadduct.

Total syntheses of the Lycopodium alkaloids nankakurines A and B have been accomplished in 6 and 7 steps, respectively, via a sequence that passes through a third Lycopodium alkaloid, luciduline, and forgoes the use of protecting groups on nitrogen. Key features include a short preparation of luciduline followed by a concise and stereoselective aminoallylation/ring-closing metathesis protocol to fashion the spiropiperidine ring common to nankakurines A and B.

2-Iodoxybenzoic acid is a convenient reagent for the dehydrogenation of tetrahydro-β-carbolines to their aromatic forms under mild conditions. The utility of the method was demonstrated in a total synthesis of the marine indole alkaloid eudistomin U.

The total synthesis of the bridge-fused Aspidosperma indole alkaloid (±)-subincanadine F has been accomplished in seven steps. The synthetic utility of a titanium-mediated intramolecular nucleophilic acyl substitution (INAS) reaction for the construction of the bridge-fused ring system was demonstrated.

An enantioselective formal total synthesis of the cytotoxic macrolide (+)-aspergillide C has been accomplished from (S)-(−)-glyceraldehyde acetonide and the Danishefsky−Kitahara diene. Strategic transformations include a hetero Diels−Alder reaction, Ferrier-type addition, and palladium-catalyzed oxidative lactonization to set key stereocenters within the dihydropyran core, followed by fragment coupling via (E)-selective Julia−Kocienski olefination.

An efficient iodine-mediated oxidation of tetrahydro-β-carbolines is described to yield aromatic β-carboline products with tandem C–H oxidation. The utility of the method was demonstrated in total syntheses of the alkaloids eudistomins Y1–Y7.