“…"* This involved, as critical steps, the stereoselective 1,4-addition of a vinylcuprate (196) to the tetracyclic lactam (197), methanolysis of the lactam (198) via the corresponding imidate salt, and cyclization of the formaldiminium ion derived from reaction of the vinyl silane ( I 99) with paraformaldehyde. The product, from (197) and (196b), was (+) 192-methyl geissoschizoate (200), which was converted as before into the 2-isositsirikine epimers (1 89) and (190) (Scheme 27). Alternatively, (197) and (196a) led by the same route to (+-)-methyl geissoschizoate (201) and thence to (+)-geissoschizine (202).…”