Synthesis of homaline and epi-homaline
Abstract
5-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,5-diazacycla-octan-2-one has been prepared by cyclisation of an acyclic precursor or by transamidation from 4-phenylazetidin-2-one, and converted into natural (–)-homaline and epi-homaline: the approach is applicable to the synthesis of unsymmetrical alkaloids.