To a suspension of 8.9 g (50 mmol) of (S)-1-phenylmethyl-3-hydroxypyrrolidine [Synth. Commun., 15, 587 (1985)], 9.8 g (50 mmol) of phthalimide, 13.1 g (50 mmol) of triphenylphosphine and 100 ml of tetrahydrofuran was added, dropwise, a solution of 8.8 g (50 mmol) of diethyl azodicarboxylate at room temperature. The reaction was stirred for 18 hours and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was triturated with ether and the solid was removed by filtration and chromatographed on silica gel (E. Merck-240-400 mesh) eluting with chloroform/ethyl acetate (80:20). Fractions were combined based on thin layer chromatography and evaporated in vacuo to give 12.1 g of the title compound.
