Condensation of substituted O-toluamide anions on to di-O-isopropylide
ne D-gulono-1,4-lactone followed by intramolecular aldol cyclisation p
rovides 2-aryl-cyclohexenones which were in turn transformed into prot
ected forms of 4a-epi-narciclasine and iso-narciclasine via a reductiv
e amination.