Abstract A total synthesis of (−)-strychnine in 15 steps from 1, 3-cyclohexanedione in 0.15% overall yield is described. The sequence followed in the assembling of rings is: E→ AE [2-(2- nitrophenyl)-1, 3-cyclohexanedione]→ ACE (3a-aryloctahydroindol-4-one)→ ACDE (arylazatricyclic core)→ ABCDE (strychnan skeleton)→ ABCDEF (Wieland-Gumlich aldehyde)→ ABCDEFG (strychnine). The key steps of the synthesis are the ...