Synthesis of the core ring system of the stemona alkaloids by cascade condensation, cyclization, intramolecular cycloaddition.

Condensation of an aldehyde with an α-amino-ester, followed by a tandem process involving cyclization to a seven-membered ring, deprotonation to an intermediate azomethine ylide and intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition gave tricyclic products related to stenine and neostenine.