The enantioselective total synthesis and structure revision of spirodihydrobenzofuranlactam 1 and of its regioisomer 25 are presented. Optically pure (+)-Wieland-Miescher ketone was utilized to construct the AB bicyclic core in 10 steps. Introduction of the resorcylate D-ring unit was achieved by use of our tert-butyl ester metalation sequence. Subsequent stereoselective spirocyclization to form the C-ring was followed by regioselective ring cyanation and lactam formation to produce the pentacyclic structure 1 and its regioisomer 25.

The synthesis and reactivity of planar chiral 2-ferrocenyloxazolines and 1,1'bis (oxazolinyl) ferrocenes is reviewed, with particular emphasis on their applications in asymmetric catalysis.

--On treatment of N-tosylimines 1 and 4-hydroxyl-cis-butenyl arsonium salt 5 or sulfonium salt 11a with KOH in acetonitrile at room temperature, 2-(a-substituted N-tosylaminomethyl)-2,5-dihydrofurans 4 were obtained in moderate yields through a new ylide

A series of planar chiral 1,1A-P,N-2A-substituted ferrocene ligands 9-12 and 16, prepared with diastereopurity > 99+1, have been used to examine the role of planar chirality, and significant effects on enantioselectivity as well as the control of absolute configuration in palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation as a model reaction were observed.

Alkylation under phase transfer conditions of the chiral glycine synthon 2 (prepared from the commercially available Oppolzer chiral sultam) with fluorinated analogues of 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl chloride proceeded with high diastereoselectivity. Hydrolysis of the Schiff base, removal of the chiral auxiliary and HBr demethylation produced 2-, 5-, 6-fluoro- and 2,6-difluoro-LDOPA in e.e. of >99%.