Total Synthesis of (±)‐Corymine

The first total synthesis of the hexacyclic indole alkaloid (±)‐corymine is described. Starting from the readily available N‐protected tryptamine, the title compound was achieved in 21 steps in 3.4 % overall yield. Key steps of the synthesis include: a) the addition of a malonate to a 3‐bromooxindole to afford 3,3‐disubstituted oxindole, b) the formation of a 12‐membered cyclic enol ether by intramolecular O‐propargylation, immediately followed by propargyl Claisen rearrangement to provide the α‐allenyl ketone stereospecifically, c) DMDO oxidation to install a hydroxy group in a highly stereoselective manner, and d) the SmI 2 ‐mediated reductive C−O bond cleavage to remove the α‐keto carboxyl group.