 synthesized ("R"/"S")-methylecgonidine by a tandem cyclopropanation/Cope rearrangement.Thus, reaction of methyldiazobutenoate (2) with 5 equiv of "N"-((2-(TMS)ethoxy)carbonyl)pyrrole (1) in the presence of rhodium(II) hexanoate/hexane gave the [3.2.1]-azabicyclic system ("R"/"S")-8 in 62% yield.The unsubstituted double bond was selectively reduced using Wilkinson catalyst to provide N-protected anhydroecgonine methyl ester (("R"/"S")-4).