Tw oa mino acids play ak ey role in the first total synthesis of lycopalhine A. l-glutamic acid serves as aconvenient chiral starting material for the 13-step synthesis,a nd l-proline promotes an unusual 5-endo-trig Mannich cyclization that generates the central pyrrolidine ring of the Lycopodium alkaloid. The bicyclo[3.3.0]octanol moiety of the molecule is formed through an intramolecular aldol addition that may occur spontaneously in nature.