Total synthesis of micropine and epimicropine

The enantioselective total synthesis of micropine, an unusual 2,6-disubstituted piperidine alkaloid, and epimicropine, through mercuric trifluoroacetate-catalysed intramolecular alkenylamide cyclisation is described. The synthesis proceeds from L-serine and affords material of the same positive sign of optical rotation as the natural product thereby confirming the absolute stereochemistry of micropine. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd