Concise total syntheses of naturally occurring nothapodytine B (1, mappicine ketone) and ( - )-mappicine (3) are detailed. The approach is based on the implememation of a room-temperature, inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction of the N-sulfonyl-1-aza-1.3-butadiene 11 for assemblage of a pyridone 1) ring precursor central to the structure. A Friedlander condensation is utilized for constructing the AB ring system of 1 and 3. An acid-catalyzed reaction sequence is used to accomplish a deprotection with subsequent ring-closure for introduction of the C ring in a single step.