Abstract: The condensation of piperonylidenemethylamine (15) with 3, 4-(methylenedioxy)-7- methylhomophthalic anhydride (14) has been utilized as the key step in a total synthesis of the naturally occurring hexahydrobenzo [c] phenanthridine alkaloids (*)-corynoline (l),(*)-6- oxmrynoline (2), and (*)-14-epicorynoline (3). The production of each of the desired diastereomers 16 and 17 was maximized under certain specified reaction conditions. An ...