An efficient synthesis of a cyclopentannulated pyrrolidine derivative

Abstract

A racemic cyclopentannulated pyrrolidine derivative was synthesized utilizing ruthenium oxidation and borane reduction as the key steps. Ruthenium oxidation reaction of the 1,2-dibromoalkene moiety in an N-Boc-protected tetrabromonorbornyl derivative afforded a tricyclic α-hydroxy ketone, which on alkaline hydrogen peroxide cleavage furnished a bicyclic lactam in excellent yield. Borane reduction of the N-Boc-protected bicyclic lactam gave an unexpected product as a single diastereomer resulting from the reduction of not only the lactam and ester moieties but also the ketal to the corresponding methyl ether. A plausible mechanism involving an oxocarbenium ion is discussed.