Total Synthesis of (+)-<i>trans</i>-Dihydronarciclasine Utilizing Asymmetric Conjugate Addition

A highly efficient short-step construction of the common phenanthridine skeleton of pancratistatin-class alkaloids was accomplished in enantiomerically pure form using chiral ligand-controlled asymmetric conjugate addition. The utility of the intermediate was demonstrated by the total synthesis of (+)-<i>trans</i>-dihydronarciclasine with mild oxidation from an amine to an amide as a key step