Novel Approach to the (-)-Sparteine-Mediated Synthesis of Kainoids:Total Synthesis of (-)-α-Kainic Acid by (-)-Sparteine-Mediated Deprotonation

Total synthesis of (-)-α-kainic acid via chirality transfer through Ireland-Claisen rearrangement

The total synthesis of (-)-α-Kainic acid is accomplished using a linear strategy involving Noyori asymmetric reduction and chirality transfer through Ireland-Claisen rearrangement as key steps.

First chemoenzymatic synthesis of (+)-2-carboxypyrrolidine-3-acetic acid, the nucleus of kainoid amino acids

The distinctive nucleus of kainoid amino acids, (2S,3R)-(+)-2-carboxypyrrolidine-3-acetic acid 6, was synthesized by a chemoenzymatic process, exploiting the diastereomeric cis/trans methyl pyroglutamate derivatives 10a-c/11a-c as key intermediates. These mixtures, when subjected to a kinetic resolution mediated by α-chymotrypsin, reacted diastereo-, regio-, and enantioselectively to give the trans derivatives (+)-10a-c possessing the correct (2S,3R) configuration. Subsequently, the desired product (2S,3R)-(+)-6 could be obtained after well-established transformations.

Indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloids

This review covers the isolation, structure determination, synthesis, chemical transformations and biological activity of indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloids. Included in the review are the hydroxylated indolizidines lentiginosine, swainsonine, castanospermine and their analogues; alkaloids from animal sources, including ants, amphibians and beetles; indolizidine alkaloids from the genera Polygonatum, Prosopis and Elaeocarpus; indolizidine and phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids; alkylquinolizidine alkaloids, including myrtine, epimyrtine, plumerinine and Lycopodium metabolites; Lythraceae and Nuphar alkaloids; lupine alkaloids; and alkaloids from marine sources. 150 references are cited.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 3-Hydroxy-pyrrolidines via Tin−Lithium Exchange and Cyclization

We report a method for the synthesis of chiral pyrrolidines using tin-lithium exchange and cyclization reactions. The precursors are formed readily from simple starting materials and undergo tin-lithium exchange by treatment with n-butyllithium. Subsequent intramolecular carbolithiation is stereoselective to give highly enantiomerically enriched pyrrolidines in excellent yields.