A short and efficient organocatalytic enantioselective formal synthesis of HRV 3C-protease inhibitor (1R,3S)-thysanone is achieved in a nine-step with 98.7% enantiomeric excess, by employing L-proline-catalyzed asymmetric of alpha-aminooxylation of aldehyde and Oxa-Pictet-Spengler cyclization as the key steps. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.