Recent advances in the synthesis of naturally occurring pyrrolidines, pyrrolizidines and indolizidine alkaloids using proline as a unique chiral synthon

The present article describes the synthesis of a wide spectrum of natural products of the class pyrrolidines, pyrrolizidines and indolizidines using proline as a viable synthetic precursor. The review emphasizes the versatility of the basic unit of proline as a useful chiral synthon confined for the synthesis of only natural products of the above mentioned families. The vast coverage of the synthesis of these natural products is presented for a period from 1990 onwards. The synthesis of all ranges of alkaloids from simple to complex molecules is presented under the groups of alkaloids.