Stereocontrolled construction of substituted pyrrolidines based on intramolecular protodesilylation reaction. Enantiospecific synthesis of (–)-kainic acid and (+)-allokainic acid from L -serine

Novel Stereocontrolled enantiospecific syntheses of (–)-kainic acid and (+)-allokainic acid have been achieved starting from L-serine via two modes of C-2 and C-3 side chain-directed intramolecular protodesilylations of 4-(trimethylsilylmethyl)ethylidenepyrrolidines.