Total syntheses of (+)-cytisine, (-)-kuraramine, (-)-isokuraramine, and (-)-jussiaeiine A were achieved via a samarium diiodide-promoted reductive deamination reaction, followed by simultaneous recyclization of a proline derivative to give the corresponding delta-lactam derivative, as a key step.

[reaction: see text] A diastereoselective total synthesis of securinine in optically pure form was achieved by employing ring-closing metathesis of the corresponding dienyne compound as a key step.

[reaction: see text] Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular carbon-carbon bond formation of aryl halides and amide-enolates gave 4-arylisoquinoline derivatives in good yields, which were further converted into the isoquinoline alkaloids cherylline and latifine.