A facile route to naturally occurring (±)-norpandamarilactonines A and B, (±)-pandamarilactonines A-D, and pandanamine has been described from 3-methylfuran-2(5H)-one, with a reductive intramolecular aza-Michael-type addition as the key step.
3-methylfuran-2(5H)-one - condensation - intramolecular aza-Michael reaction - pandamarilactonines