Short synthesis of stenusine and norstenusine, two spreading alkaloids from Stenus beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Each of the both spreading alkaloids stenusine and norstenusine could be synthesized starting from commercially available 3-picoline in a two-step synthesis in yields of 74% and 67% in gram scale. The stereoisomeric ratio of the synthesized (+)-stenusine is similar to that of stenusine from Stenus comma.