Abstract: Racemic compounds (1 and 2) of the antimalarial agents febrifugine (D-1) and isofebrifugine (D-2) were synthesized using an unusual Claisen rearrangement of allyl enol ether 6 and the stereoselective reduction of 2-allylpiperid-3-one 8. This method is widely applicable to the synthesis of febirifugine derivatives. Key words: Claisen rearrangement, stereoselective reduction, febrifugine, isofebrifugine, antimalarial agent
