Enantiodivergent synthesis of 2-hydroxymethyl-3-hydroxy-4-nitro-pyrrolidines through tandem Michael-Henry reaction using L-serine as the chiral educt

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)01671-1

By utilizing L-serine, both enantiomers of all trans 2-hydroxymethyl-3-hydroxy-4-nitro-pyrrolidine were efficiently prepared through tandem Michael-Henry methodology. Their stereochemistry has been assigned through conversions of one of them to trans 2-hydroxymethyl-3-hydroxypyrrolidine, a naturally occurring compound recently is isolated from Castanospermum australe.