A total synthesis of betalaine pigments ( 6) is described. The key intermediate is betalamic acid in the form of its dimethyl ester semicarbazone ( 9), which was transformed with L-proline ( 16) into indicaxanthine dimenthl ester ( 5), with L-cyclodopa methul ester ( 17) into betanidine trimethyl ester ( 3) and by hydrolysis of the latter into betanidine ( 2).