Selective reduction of 2-(β-cyanoalkyl)oxazolines into cyclic amidines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)00741-1

The selective reduction of 2-(2-cyanopropyl)-4,5-dihydrooxazoles into heterocyclic amidines has been achieved with LAH in carefully controlled conditions. This reaction was applied to the enantioselective synthesis of (S)-4-methylpyrrolidin-2-one, starting from (R)-phenylglycinol derived oxazoline 1b.