involves a reductive dehydrocyclization and the nucleophilic ringopening of a fused γ-lactam. The route allows for ease in synthesizing diverse derivatives in the side chain of the natural product. The first total synthesis of (–)-auranomide C has been achieved. The short synthetic strategy involves a reductive dehydrocyclization and the nucleophilic ringopening of a fused γ-lactam. The route allows