Concise total syntheses of naturally occurring nothapodytine B (1, mappicine ketone) and (-)-mappicine (3) are detailed. The approach is based on the implementation of a room-temperature, inverse electron demand Diels-Alder react ion of the N-sulfonyl-1-aza-1,3-butadiene 11 for assemblage of a pyridone D 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.