Novel Methods for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Oxetane, Azetidine and Pyrrolidine Derivatives

Novel, superbase promoted stereoselective rearrangement reactions of chiral oxirane derivatives provided chiral oxetane and azetidine derivatives. An optically active 3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine was synthetised via catalytic hydrogenolysis of an oxetane derivative followed by ring closure of the formed optically active aminoalcohol.