First total synthesis of the 2,7-naphthyridine alkaloids lophocladine a and B.

The one-pot reaction of 4-benzylpyridine-3-carbonitrile with Bredereck's reagent and subsequent treatment with either glacial acetic acid and sulfuric acid or ammonium acetate provided the new bioactive naphthyridine alkaloids lophocladine A and B, respectively.