Stereoselective Synthesis of (7aS)-1-Methylenehexahydro-1H-pyrrolizine and (−)-Heliotridane from N-Diphenylmethyl-(S)-proline Ethyl Ester

Alkaloid (7aS)-1-methylenehexahydro-1H-pyrrolizine was synthesized from N-diphenylmethyl-(S)-proline ethyl ester by cyclopropanation of the ester group with ethylmagnesium bromide in the presence of titanium tetraisopropoxide, replacement of the protecting group on the nitrogen atom, and cationic cyclopropylallyl isomerization of (S)-1-(1-ethoxycarbonylpyrrolidin-2-yl)cyclopropyl sulfonate into the corresponding allyl bromide. Stereoselective reduction of (7aS)-1-methylenehexahydro-1H-pyrrolizine with sodium tetrahydridoborate in the presence of nickel chloride afforded (−)-heliotridane [(1S,7aS]-1-methylhexahydro-1H-pyrrolizine] in high yield.