Tandem Wittig-ene reaction approach to kainic acid

Abstract

The first example of a tandem Wittig-intramolecular ene reaction approach and its application toward the synthesis of kainic acid is reported. The synthetic pathway involves conversion of prenyl bromide into phosphorane 3, followed by one-pot Wittig olefination and an ene reaction with glyoxalic acid to give the cis fused pyrrolidine skeleton of kainic acid.