Enantiomerically pure piperazines via NaBH4/I2 reduction of cyclic amides

Enantiomerically pure (3S,7R,8aS)-3-phenyloctahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol, (3S,7R,8aS)-3-methyl octahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol, (3S,7R,8aS)-3-isopropyloctahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol and (3S,7R,8aS)-3-isobutyloctahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol 16d were synthesized via preparation of the corresponding cyclic amides from enantiomerically pure l-proline and hydroxyproline derivatives followed by reduction using sodium borohydride-iodine.