A synthetic strategy to pyrrolidines and piperidines based on cyclization of α-sulfinyl carbanions

Abstract

A general synthetic strategy for the preparation of pyrrolidines, piperidines and their unsaturated analogs is described, which involves intramolecular cyclization of α-sulfinyl carbanions onto the carbonyl group of the readily prepared N-phenylsulfinylpropyl- or N- phenylsulfinylbutylamides, followed by reductive desulfurization or sulfoxide elimination of the resulting cyclized products.