A short and efficient synthesis of enantiopure (+)-N-Boc-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one utilizing an asymmetric desymmetrization protocol: formal total synthesis of (−)-epibatidine

A short and efficient synthesis of optically pure (+)-N-Boc-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-one (2), a precursor in the synthesis of natural (−)-epibatidine (1), is reported by the asymmetric desymmetrization of meso-N-methoxycarbonyl-2,3-bis(phenylsulfonyl)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (3).