Desymmetrization of meso 7-aza-2,3-bis(phenylsulfonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene: a re-examination. Kinetic resolution of racemic 3-arylsulfonyl-7-aza-2-bromobicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-dienes

The inexpensive large scale preparation of N-methoxycarbonyl-7-aza-2,3-bis(phenylsulfonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and the re-examination of its stereoselective desymmetrization are reported. Moreover, the kinetic resolution of N-protected 3-arylsulfonyl-7-aza-2-bromobicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-dienes promoted by (R,R)-hydrobenzoin is described, representing a new tool to fix the absolute stereochemistry of the 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1] skeleton.