Résumé : The total synthesis of the title compound (1) has been achieved. Also reported is the use of lanthanide induced shifts in 1H NMR spectroscopy to assign the absolute configuration of the α‐carbon atom in chiral primary α‐methylalkylamines. Application of this empirical method to natural (+)‐1 shows that it has the R‐configuration at C‐17. Copyright © 1985 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim