Synthesis and absolute configuration of (-)-normalindine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)01568-2

The first chiral synthesis of the Strychnos and Ophiorrhiza alkaloid (-)-normalindine has been accomplished through a route starting from L-alanine methyl ester and exploiting intramolecular oxazole-olefin Diels-Alder reaction. As a result, the absolute stereochemistry of normalindine has been defined as represented by formula (-)-1.