19-Epi-(+)-echitoveniline, a new indole alkaloid of the leaves ofAlstonia venenata R.Br., has been shown to possess the structure and absolute stereochemistry represented by 5b on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. A mechanistic rationale for the dependence of the mode of LAH reduction of the δ-lactone 11 on its configuration at C-19 has been offered. The influence of the C-19 configuration