Spath and Mamoli first synthesized anabaseine in 1936.
The researchers reacted benzoic anhydride with δ-valerolactam to yield N-benzoylpiperidone.
Then, N-benzoylpiperidone is reacted with nicotinic acid ethyl ester to produce α-nicotinoyl-N-benzoyl-2-piperidone.
This product then is decarboxylated, undergoes a ring closure, and amide hydrolysis to form anabaseine.

Additional synthetic strategies have since been developed by Bloom, Zoltewicz, Smith, and Villemin.
Spath and Mamoli first synthesized anabaseine in 1936. The researchers reacted benzoic anhydride with δ-valerolactam to yield N-benzoylpiperidone. Then, N-benzoylpiperidone is reacted with nicotinic acid ethyl ester to produce α-nicotinoyl-N-benzoyl-2-piperidone. This product then is decarboxylated, undergoes a ring closure, and amide hydrolysis to form anabaseine.
Additional synthetic strategies have since been developed by Bloom, Zoltewicz, Smith, and Villemin.
Anabaseine