First regiospecific, enantiospecific total synthesis of gardnerine and gardnutine

The first enantiospecific total synthesis of gardnerine and gardnutine has been achieved from 6-methoxy-d-tryptophan via the asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction, a stereocontrolled intramolecular enolate driven palladium-mediated cross-coupling reaction and a chemospecific, regiospecific hydroboration/oxidation sequence as key steps.