Stereospecific synthesis of the anaesthetic levobupivacaine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)01357-3

Enantiomerically pure (S)-bupivacaine is synthesized from the chiral pool using cheap and readily available (S)-lysine. The key steps in this efficient synthesis include an oxidative de-amination and stereospecific ring closure to form the pipecolamide core structure.