Intramolecular 5-endo-trig aminomercuration of beta-hydroxy-gamma-alkenylamines: efficient route to a pyrrolidine ring and its application for the synthesis of (+)-castanospermine and analogues.

The intramolecular aminomercuration reaction of sugar-derived beta-hydroxy-gamma-alkenylamines 8a-c undergoes 5-endo-trig cyclization in high yield. The sugar-substituted pyrrolidines thus obtained were elaborated to the synthesis of polyhydroxylated indolizidine alkaloids, namely, castanospermine 1a, 1-epi-castanospermine 1b, and 8a-epi-castanospermine 1c, having promising glycosidase inhibitory activities.