Abstract Hydroxylated seco-analogs of cytotoxic phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids were prepared in good yields from inexpensive 4-hydroxyproline derivatives, in just two steps. Thus, a sequential oxidative radical scission–oxidation was used for the direct conversion of the proline derivative into a 2-(2-aryl-oxoethyl) pyrrolidine with a variety of aryl and heteroaryl groups. The 4R-stereogenic center allowed ready isomer separation, and ...
