A concise, enantioselective synthesis of the potent dual orexin inhibitor 
suvorexant (1) is reported. Key features of the synthesis include a mild 
copper-catalyzed amination, a highly chemoselective conjugate addition, and a 
tandem enantioselective transamination/seven-membered ring annulation. The 
synthesis requires inexpensive starting materials and only four linear steps for 
completion.