The present invention involves use of the compounds narciclasine (2a) and 7-deoxy-narciclasine (2c), which are obtained via isolation from the medicinal plant species Narcissus (Amaryllidaceae), as precursors in a novel synthesis method in which each of these compounds are selectively hydrogenated to produce trans-dihydronarciclasine (1a) and 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine (1c). Also described herein is a novel synthesis method for producing sodium narcistatin (11) from narciclasine (2a). Further described herein are certain novel 3,4-cyclic phosphate prodrugs, including sodium-7-deoxynarcistatin (8), sodium-7-deoxy-transdihydronarcistatin (9), and sodium transdihydronarcistatin (10).