A general method for the synthesis of pyrrolizidine derivatives using an intramolecular hydroaminomethylation protocol (HAM) under microwave (MW) dielectric heating is reported. Starting from a 3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-2-[(benzyloxy)methyl]-5-vinylpyrrolidine, MW-assisted intramolecular HAM in the presence of gaseous H2 and CO gave the natural alkaloid hyacinthacine A2 protected as benzyl ether. The same approach gave a lentiginosine analogue starting from the corresponding vinyl N-hydroxypyrrolidine. The nature of the reaction products and the yields were strongly influenced by the relative stereochemistry of the starting pyrrolidines, as well as by the catalyst/ligand employed. The use of ethanol as a solvent provides environmentally friendly conditions, while the ligand/catalyst system can be recovered by separating the alkaloid product with an SCX column and recycling the ethanolic solution. HAM worked up to three times with the recycled catalyst solution without any significant impact on yield.
Keywords: hydroaminomethylation; hydroformylation; microwave-assisted organic synthesis; pyrrolizidine alkaloid.