Total synthesis of micropine and epimicropine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(96)00802-2

The enantioselective total synthesis of micropine, an unusual 2,6-disubstituted piperidine alkaloid, and epimicropine, through mercuric trifluoroacetate-catalysed intramolecular alkenylamide cyclisation is described. The synthesis proceeds from L-serine and affords material of the same positive sign of optical rotation as the natural product thereby confirming the absolute stereochemistry of micropine.