5,8-disubstituted indolizidine alkaloids formation

Tethering the alkene to the carbon atom of the nitrone allows the preparation of cw-l,2-disubstituted cycloalkanes such as 212. Examples in which the alkene is tethered to the nitrogen atom of the nitrone are also common. Thus, addition of formaldehyde to the hydroxylamine 213 promoted formation of the intermediate nitrone and hence the cycloadduct 214 (3.140). " Subsequent transformations led to the alkaloid luciduline. This synthesis illustrates a useful feature of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of nitrones, in that it provides an alternative to the Mannich reaction as a route to (3-amino-ketones, via reductive cleavage of the N-0 bond in the isoxazolidine and oxidation of the 1,3-amino-alcohol product. In another example of such an intramolecular cycloaddition reaction, the bridged bicyclic product 217, used in a synthesis of indolizidine 209B, was formed by addition of an aldehyde to the hydroxylamine 215, followed by heating the intermediate nitrone 216 (3.141).142... 

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