A stereodivergent cascade imine → azomethine ylide → 1,3-dipolar cycloadditive approach to α-chiral pyrrolidines

Stereodivergent [3+2] cycloadditions of chiral α-amino azomethine ylides leading to highly functionalized pyrrolidines are reported. The marriage of substrate conformational preferences and either an inter- or intramolecular cycloaddition manifold leads to either the l (syn) or u (anti) relationship between the pyrrolidine and α-stereocenters. The latter result may be applicable to a new approach to the bioxalomycin family of antibiotics.