Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-preussin from N-sulfinyl δ-amino β-ketoesters

The efficient asymmetric synthesis of the antifungal pyrrolidine alkaloid (+)-preussin (2) was accomplished via the stereoselective reduction of a 5-substituted 3-oxo proline. The oxo proline was prepared from an N-sulfinyl delta-amino beta-ketoester, a sulfinimine derived polyfunctionalized chiral building block. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.