Synthesis of iminodiacetaldehyde derivatives as building blocks for pharmacologically active agents

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/S-0029-1218622

The preparation of iminodiacetaldehyde derivatives is reported via oxidative cleavage of 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidines with sodium periodate. High yields of iminodiacetaldehydes are obtained starting from N-acyl-protected pyrrolidines, whereas the basic N-benzyl-protected derivative does not yield the expected dialdehyde. A cis-configured dihydroxypyrrolidine, prepared from 2,5-dihydropyrrole, reacts considerably faster with sodium periodate than the corresponding trans-configured derivatives which are obtained in three steps from (R,R)-tartaric acid. Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart.