The synthesis of (+)- and (–)-epibatidine

The synthesis of the alkaloid epibatidine {exo-2-(2-chloro-5-pyridyl)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane} in enantiomeric form involving, as the critical step, reaction or 5-lithio-2-chloropyridine with N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one is described.