Synthesis of Methyl N-Boc-(2S,4R)-4-methylpipecolate

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of fully protected (2S,4R)-4-methylpipecolic acid has been developed. The synthesis was achieved by initial asymmetric a-alkylation of glycine with a chiral iodide, affording the linear precursor as a single stereoisomer. Subsequent aldehyde formation using OsO4/NaIO4 followed by immediate intramolecular cyclization afforded an enamine that was then subjected to hydrogenation to give the final compound in 23% yield over 10 steps.