The totalsyntheses of beta-carboline alkaloids, (R)-(-)-pyridindolols (1, 5, and 6) are described. The two key steps involved are (1) a thermal electrocyclicreaction of the 3-alkenylindole-2-aldoxime 10 and (2) a thermal cyclization of 3-alkynylindole-2-aldoxime 11 to construct the beta-carboline N-oxides 8, which upon heating with acetic anhydride and sequential treatment with trifluoromethanesulfonic