Enantiodivergent syntheses of (−)- and (+)-dysibetaine CPa and N-desmethyl analog

The first total syntheses of (−)-dysibetaine CPa and the antipode have been achieved using enantioselective solvolysis of meso-cyclic anhydride mediated by quinine derivative as an organocatalyst. The synthesis features a demonstration of an enantiodivergent organic synthesis of both enantiomers of dysibetaine CPa whereby the absolute configurations of natural product were elucidated as (3R,4R). Application of the present methodology to an enantiomerically pure novel GABA analog is also reported.