Synthesis of the 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)pyrrolidine: A new conformationally constrained mescaline analogue

The total synthesis of the 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-pyrrolidine, a new and conformationally constrained mescaline analogue, was accomplished in a concise and efficient manner. The synthetic route encompassed only 4 steps from the starting NCbz-3- pyrrolidine, in 46% overall yield. The route features a highly effective Heck arylation of the non-activated olefin N-Cbz-3-pyrrolidine with the 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate. The hemiaminal (lactamol) Heck adduct was converted to the mescaline analogue in a sequence of reactions: ( a) dehydration of the intermediate hemiaminal 3 with trifluoroacetic acid anhydride, (b) hydrogenation/ hydrogenolysis of the endocyclic enecarbamate 6 with H2-Pd/C, and (c) formation of the rather stable mescaline analogue in the form of a hydrochloride salt. The target molecule constitutes a new mescaline analogue with potential activity towards 5-HT2 dopamine receptors.