Total Synthesis of (±)‐Scopolamine: Challenges of the Tropane Ring

Abstract Scopolamine was synthesized using 6,7‐dehydrotropine as a key intermediate. Rhodium‐catalyzed [4 + 3] cycloaddition chemistry and a modified Robinson–Schöpf reaction were each independently evaluated for their utility in constructing the tropane core. Both synthetic approaches gave comparable overall yields.