is a potent inhibitor of neuraminidase, and is used worldwide as a drug for type A or B influenza. The industrial synthesis of oseltamivir uses shikimic acid as a starting material, but the price fluctuates, depending on the supply of star anise. We have developed a practical synthesis of oseltamivir from pyridine, which features an asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction of dihydropyridine using MacMillan's