An efficient synthesis of ergot alkaloid lysergol and its analogues is described, providing compounds for functional evaluation at the human 5-HT, 5-HT, 5-HT, or 5-HT receptors. Key features of the synthesis include the development of a tandem reaction to construct the multifunctionalized piperidine skeleton and use of a rhodium-catalyzed [3 + 2] annulation in the late-stage indole formation.

We present an efficient and unified strategy for the enantioselective syntheses of various iboga alkaloids and vinblastine, involving gold-catalyzed oxidation and Stevens rearrangement. New vinblastine analogs were prepared by our 10-step synthesis.