Total Synthesis of (−)‐Strychnine via the Wieland–Gumlich Aldehyde

Fifteen steps suffice for an enantioselective total synthesis of (−)‐strychnine ( 1 ) from 1,3‐cyclohexanedione. The key steps are the easy generation of the enantiopure intermediate 2 , the closure of the piperidine ring by a reductive Heck reaction, and the elaboration of the indoline nucleus in an advanced synthetic stage. TBDMS=tert‐butyldimethylsilyl.