A total synthesis of lysergic acid was accomplished. Key features of our synthesis include stereoselective construction of the stereogenic centers at the allylic positions by using the Evans aldol reaction, and a sequential process with a ring-closing metathesis and an intramolecular Heck reaction to construct the C and D rings.
![(6aR)-4,7-di-tert-butyl 9-methyl 6,6a,8,9-tetrahydroindolo[4,3-fg]quinoline-4,7,9-tricarboxylate Structure](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/184/1159774-78-3.png)
![(6aR,10aS)-4,7-di-tert-butyl 9-methyl 6,6a-dihydroindolo[4,3-fg]quinoline-4,7,9(8H,10aH)-tricarboxylate Structure](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/222/1159774-77-2.png)