Abstract The preparation of an analogue 3a of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, huperzine A (1), is described in which the pyridinone moiety of the natural product is replaced with a thiazolone moiety. The synthesis started from cyclohexane-1, 4-dione monoethylene ketal (7) by first annulating the thiazole ring using the Gewald protocol ([RIGHTWARDS ARROW] 8; Scheme 1) and then constructing the bicyclo [3.3. 1] nonane substructure using our ...