Five total syntheses of heteropolycyclic natural products, namely hyalodendrin, tryprostatins, spirotryprostatin A, the core of the stemofoline alkaloids, and hinckdentine A, are outlined. These syntheses share common characteristics; the sequences of transformations are facilitated through the development of new synthetic reactions and the discoveries of unknown molecular reactivities. Brief descriptions of new reactions, the mechanistic details of key transformations, and the resulting shortcuts and ef ciencies made possible in relation to the overall picture of these total syntheses are described.