Buchwald–Hartwig coupling of bromobenzene (5) with arylamine 6 and subsequent palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization via double C–H bond activation provided mukonine (2a) in 91% yield over two steps (Scheme 2).5 and 7 Reduction of 2a using lithium aluminum hydride then afforded murrayafoline A (2c).8 and 9