Concise total syntheses of naturally occurring nothapodytine B (1, mappicine ketone) and (-)- mappicine (3) are detailed. The approach is based on the implementation of a room- temperature, inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction of the N-sulfonyl-1-aza-1, 3- butadiene 11 for assemblage of a pyridone D ring precursor central to the structure. A Friedlander condensation is utilized for constructing the AB ring system of 1 and 3. An acid ...