Total synthesis of (+/-)-cytisine

reaction:see text] The nicotine partial agonist cytisine was prepared in five steps featuring an "in situ" Stille or Suzuki biaryl pyridine coupling. Differentiation of the pyridyl rings was accomplished via selective benzylation and then reduction of a pyridinium ring. The penultimate diazabicyclo3.3.1]nonane intermediate was obtained with high diastereoselectivity. A similar sequence has been employed for the synthesis of novel derivative 9-methoxycytisine.