Tetracyclic nitrile 19a and ester 19b, exhibiting the ABC core of cephalotaxine la, were prepared through KH-induced cyclization of thioimides 14a and 14b, respectively. This new ring-closure methodology proved to be particularly efficient: thus nitrile 19a was obtained in only 7 steps with a 17% overall yield from commercially available, inexpensive safrole 2. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.