Abstract
(-)-Swainsonine (1) and (-)-8-epi-swainsonine were synthesized from (S)- and (R)-glutamic acid derivatives. (2R,3S,4R)-3,4-Dihydroxy-2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidine derivatives (9a and 9g) were prepared by cis-dihydroxylation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated compounds 6,10 and 15 with OsO4 as the key reaction. The diastereoselective allylation of the aldehydes 18 derived from 9a and 9g, followed by cyclization, gave 1 and (-)-8-epi-swainsonine.