Synthetic studies towards the octahydro-1H-benzo[f]pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolines: enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3S)-2-[(1S)-3-(benzyloxy)-1-(tert-butyldimethyl-silyloxymethyl)propyl]-3-phenylhexahydropyridine

(2R,3S)-2-[(1S)-3-(Benzyloxy)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxymethyl)propyl]-3-phenylhexahydropyridine—a key synthetic intermediate for the preparation of (6aS,11bS,11cS)-1H-benzo[f]pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinoline—was synthesized in nine steps. The synthetic approach uses both enantiomers of the chiral auxiliary trans-2,5-bis(methoxymethoxymethyl)pyrrolidine, employed in different stages of the synthesis for the construction of two out of the three stereogenic centers in the above mentioned intermediate.