An efficient synthesis of bruceolline E was completed in three steps from the known ethyl indole-l-carboxylate (9d) in 60% overall yield, via a tandem acylation/Nazarov cyclization with 3,3-dimethyl acrylic acid followed by selenium dioxide oxidation to install the alpha-diketone functionality. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.