Racemic total synthesis of diastereomeric berberine alkaloids, O-methylcorytenchirine and coralydine, was achieved from the common isoquinoline intermediate of norlaudanosine. The relative stereochemistry of C8-C14 was successfully constructed by favorable axial attack of nucleophiles to the iminium of dihydroprotoberberines. © 2021 The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry