New alkaloids from ants: Identification and synthesis of (3R,5S,9R)-3-butyl-5-(1-oxopropyl)indolizidine and (3R,5R,9R)-3-butyl-5-(1-oxopropyl)indolizidine, constituents of the poison gland secretion in Myrmicaria eumenoides (hymenoptera, formicidae)†

The (3R,5S,9R) and (3R,5R,9R) stereoisomers of 3-butyl-5-(1-oxopropyl)indolizidine (9) were identified as major constituents of the poison gland secretion of the African ant, Myrmicaria eumenoides. Racemates of the four diastereomers of 9 were synthesized via the corresponding ethyl 5-(5-butylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pentanoates (6). Enantiomerically pure samples of the (3R)-stereoisomers of 9 were obtained by starting from (2R)-2,3-O-isopropylideneglyceric aldehyde (21) and 6-methylpyridine-2-carboxaldehyde (20). In addition, the enantiomeric separation by chiral gas chromatography and unambiguous structure assignment of the target compounds are described.