Download full text in PDF Opens in a new window. Article suggestions will be shown in a dialog on return to ScienceDirect. ... Please enable JavaScript to use all the features on this page. ... Racemic 1-azaspiro[4.4]nonane-2,6-dione 1 was easily synthesized from cyclopentanone in five steps and resolved via chiral acetals into enantiomers. Cephlotaxine (−)-3 and its enantiomer (+)-3 were obtained from (−)-1 and (+)-1, respectively, according to the literature.