An Efficient Enantioselective Synthesis of Indicine N-Oxide, an Antitumor Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)80345-8

Indicine N-oxide (1), a pyrrolizidine alkaloid potentially useful for an anticancer drug was synthesized in the natural form through regioselective coupling of (+)-retronecine (2) and the protected necic acids 16a and 16b, the latter being efficiently prepared from the optically pure lactone 5.