Studies on the syntheses of heterocyclic compounds. Part CDLIII. Total synthesis of (±)-ochrobirine

(±)-Ochrobirine (1) has been synthesised through a Pictet–Spengler reaction of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenethylamine (2) with 2,2-dihydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxyindane-1,3-dione (8), followed by N-methylation and stereoselective reduction with sodium borohydride.