Regio- and Enantioselective Alkylation of a N-Protected Pyrrolidin-3-one Using Enders’ Chiral Hydrazone Method: A Key Step Towards a New Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (-)-Quinocarcin and Related Analogues

The synthesis of C-4-alkylated pyrrolidin-3-one 5 was achieved by regio- and diastereoselective alkylation of chiral hydrazone 8 with electrophile 7 followed by selective deprotection. Highly functionalised compound 5 is the first key intermediate in our approach towards a new asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-quinocarcin (1) and related structural analogues 2 and 3.