Total Synthesis of (−)-Stemospironine

[structure: see text]. A stereocontrolled total synthesis of the polycyclic Stemona alkaloid, (-)-stemospironine (1) has been achieved. Key transformations include the use of a Staudinger reaction leading to the aza-Wittig ring closure of the perhydroazepine system. Formation of the vicinal pyrrolidine butyrolactone is described via the stereoselective intramolecular capture of an intermediate aziridinium salt.