The title synthesis was accomplished by featuring (i) aldol coupling of the 3-methylanisole 11 with 5-substituted- or 3,5-disubstituted 2-formylpyrrolidine 4 or 5, (ii) highly diastereoselective reduction of 1,3-disubstituted isoquinolines 14 and 33 to control stereochemistries at the C5 and C11a positions in 10-decarboxyquinocarcin (2) and quinocarcin (I), respectively, simaultaneously in a single step, and (iii) intramolecular aminal formation of amino aldehydes 21 and 41 to construct the requisite ABCD ring systems 22 and 42 as key steps.