Abstract A novel and efficient synthesis of (-)-8-epi-swainsonine (2) is reported. Face- selective diol formation from the bicyclic alkene 3 followed by a stereoselective vinylation of the aldehyde and ring-closing metathesis gave the indolizidine ring system, which was converted into (-)-8-epi-swainsonine (2).
![(3aS,4R,6aR)-4-hydroxymethyl-2,2-dimethyl-tetrahydro-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-c]pyrrole-5-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester Structure](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/307/100806-49-3.png)
![(3aS,4S,6aR)-4-formyl-2,2-dimethyl-tetrahydro-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-c]pyrrole-5-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester Structure](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/155/127910-61-6.png)