Biologically interesting chiral 3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidines from optically active hydroxycitric acid lactones

Starting with (2S,3S)-tetrahydro-3-hydroxy-5-oxo-2,3-furandicarboxylic acid (garcinia acid), isolated from the chiral pool, and alkyl amines, 3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidinediones, analogues of naturally occurring mescaline isocitrimidelactone, have been obtained in one-pot. These imides were subsequently converted into optically active pyrrolidines.