Highly stereoselective ring expansion of enantiopure α-hydroxyalkyl azetidines

Stereodefined α-hydroxyalkyl azetidines, prepared in a few steps from enantiopure β-amino alcohols, are chlorinated or transformed into methanesulfonyloxymethyl derivatives in good yields. Heating of these compounds in chloroform or dimethylformamide induces a stereospecific ring enlargement to give 3-chloro or 3-methanesulfonyloxy pyrrolidines. The ease of this rearrangement depends on the nature of the migrating group (Cl⁻ or MsO⁻), of the class of the starting alcohol (primary or secondary) and of the relative stereochemistry of the starting material.