Intermediates useful for the synthesis of huperzine A represented by the structures below, and methods for their synthesis, wherein: R1 is lower alkyl, benzyl, or substituted benzyl; X is a suitable leaving group; Y is an electron withdrawing group that can subsequently be converted into an amino group; one broken line is present as a carbon—carbon bond and the other broken line is absent, where the broken line forms an unconjugated carbon—carbon double bond, which double bond may be endocyclic whereby n is 3 or the double bond may be exocyclic whereby n is 2.