ring reduction can be achieved conveniently. The resulting products 5a and 8a readily constituted platforms to access stereoselectively the partially 6a and 7a or totally 9a and 9b reduced furo[f]indolizines. The key step of the stereocontrolled reduction seems to be the catalytic hydrogenation of the furan nucleus in the (4aS,9aS)-(+)-5a product. Assignments of the absolute stereochemistry are made and