Abstract An efficient and highly enantioselective (ee> 97%) total synthesis of the ladybug defence alkaloid (17R, 9Z)-1, 17-diaminooctadec-9-ene [(R, Z)-1, harmonine] in good overall yield is described. As the key step for the generation of the stereogenic center, asymmetric C [BOND] C bond formation by nucleophilic addition of methyllithium to an aldehyde SAMP hydrazone is used.
