A stereocontrolled synthesis of (+/-)-geissoschizine, involving the ad
dition of the enolate derived from 1-acetylindole to pyridinium salt 2
, cyclization of the resultant 1,4-dihydropyridine stereoselective ela
boration of the E-ethylidene substituent, closure of C ring by Pummere
r reaction, and methanolysis of the resulting pentacyclic lactam, is r
eported. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd