Lead tetraacetate oxidation of N-trifluoroacetylnorcodamine (5) in (S)-(+)-2-phenylpropionic acid gave a diastereomeric mixture of two p-quinol acylates, which were easily separated to enantiomerically pure 6a and 6b. Treatment of the chiral quinol acylates (6a) and (6b) with trifluoroacetic acid in CH2Cl2 at room temperature afforded (1R)-(−)-6-trifluoroacetylwilsonirine (7a) and , respectively. Saponification