Homoallylic amines were prepared by asymmetric deprotonation of benzylamines using
n-BuLi and (–)-sparteine to give chiral organolithiums to which were added prenyl bromide.
Removal of the Boc protecting group gave anilines that were found to undergo Brønsted
acid catalyzed or iodine-mediated cyclization to give aryl-substituted pyrrolidine
heterocyclic products with high enantioselectivity.
Key words
amines - carbocation - cyclization - enantioselectivity - heterocycles