Total synthesis of the reported structure of 13a-hydroxytylophorine

The first total synthesis of the reported structure of 13a-hydroxytylophorine was accomplished. The key step was an unprecedented NaBH₄-promoted one-pot reductive cyclization cascade that efficiently yielded a hydroxyl azonane intermediate. The indolizidine framework was obtained by means of oxidation and a subsequent unexpected protecting-group migration. This total synthesis revealed that the reported structure of the naturally isolated compound is incorrect.