(5R)-5-alkyl-5,6-dihydroindolizines via stereospecific domino hydroformylation/cyclodehydrationof (3R)-3-(pyrrol-1-yl)alk-1-enes

(5R)-5-Alkyl-5,6-dihydroindolizines 3a-c having the same high enantiomeric excess (>92%) as the corresponding starting olefins (3R)-3-(pyrrol-1-yl)alk- 1-enes 1a-c were obtained via a highly regioselective and stereospecific domino hydroformylation/cyclodehydration reaction sequence. The reasons for this configurational stability were also analyzed in the light of the general accepted rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation mechanism. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved