An efficient formal synthesis of (+/-)-cycloclavine is achieved in seven steps and 27% overall yield from the known 2-(4-bromo-1-tosyl-1H-indol-3-yl)acetaldehyde. Key features include an iron(III)-catalyzed aza-Cope-Mannich cyclization and an intramolecular Heck reaction or a self-terminating 6-exo-trig aryl radical-alkene cyclization.