Stereoselective functionalization of pyrrolidinone moiety towards the synthesis of salinosporamide A

An important feature of the synthesis of salinosporamide A, a potent proteasome inhibitor, is the establishment of the quaternary stereocenter at C3. A new route has been developed based on the methylation of a functionalized pyrrolidinone. Direct methylation reaction led to the unwanted diastereomer; however, by means of a Corey–Chaykovsky reaction followed by LiAlH4 epoxide opening, the desired alcohol was obtained. The pyrrolidinone was elaborated through a key allylation reaction between a tertiary allyltitanium reagent and an aldehyde bearing a spiroketal moiety in α-position.