New modes for the osmium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization.

The osmium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of amino alcohol initiators formally derived from 1,4-dienes is an effective method for the construction of pyrrolidines, utilizing a novel reoxidant (4-nitropyridine N-oxide = NPNO). The cyclization of enantiopure syn- and anti-amino alcohols gives rise to enantiopure cis- and trans-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines, respectively. Moreover, the cyclization of bis-homoallylic amines bearing an exocyclic chelating group is shown to be a complementary method for trans-pyrrolidine formation