title: The enantiospecific synthesis of (+)-monomorine I using a 5-endo-trig cyclisation strategy.
abstract: We have developed a general strategy for the synthesis of 2,5-syn disubstituted pyrrolidines that is based on the multi-faceted reactivity of the sulfone moiety and a 5-endo-trig cyclisation. This methodology was applied to the synthesis of indolizidine alkaloid monomorine I. Two factors were key to the success of this endeavour; the first was the choice of nitrogen protecting group whilst the second was the conditions for the final stereoselective amination step. Employing a combination of different protecting groups and an intramolecular reductive amination reaction we were able to prepare (+)-monomorine I in just 11 steps from commercially available D-norleucine in a completely stereoselective manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. malcolm.b.berry@gsk.com
authors.forename: Malcolm B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Gareth J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Rowlands