Polyhydroxylated indolizidine alkaloids are sugar mimics which inhibit glycosidases with promising potential as drugs against viruses, cancers and diabetes. 1 A large number of representative structures were isolated from natural sources and the synthesis of the corresponding stereoisomers and analogues is actively pursued particularly for structure–activity studies. 1., 2., and A variety of methods have been reported for the synthesis of indolizidine alkaloids and ...