Access to1-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidines utilizing malate enolate-imine condensation and ring-closing methathesis: Synthesis of (-)-croalbinecine

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are nitrogen-fused bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes and have long attracted synthetic interest due to their relatively simple structural features and wide range of pharmacologic activity. Many synthetic methods for these alkaloids rely on an efficient approach to functionalized 2-pyrrolidinones.