A practical enantioselective synthesis of Epibatidine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(96)00623-0

Two different syntheses of Epibatidine (1) were designed and carried out using easily accessible reagents and convenient reaction conditions. The ring closure of the prochiral precursor 4 catalyzed by optically active α-phenyl-ethyl-amine gave the key intermediate 5 in over 80% ee from which the natural product (-)-1 has been prepared.