The alkylation of phenacetin (1) with dimethyl sulfate gives N-methylphenetidine (2). Treatment with 2-bromopropanoyl bromide gives 2-bromo-N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-N-methylpropanamide (3). Treatment with aluminium trichloride results in 1,3-dimethyl-5-hydroxyoxindole (4). Alkylation with diethyl sulfate gives 5-ethoxy-1,3-dimethylindolin-2-one (5). Base-catalyzed treatment with chloroacetonitrile gives 2-(5-ethoxy-1,3-dimethyl-2-oxoindol-3-yl)acetonitrile (6). Catalytic hydrogenation of the nitrile group gives (7). Mono-methylation of the primary amine gives (8). Intramolecular reductive amination gives eserethole (9). Cleavage of the ethyl ether protecting group gave (-)-eseroline (10). Optional treatment with methyl isocyanide (MIC) leads to physostigmine.
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