Method of preparing enantiomerically-pure 3-methyl-5-(1-alkyl-2(s)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazoles

A process for preparing in high yield the enantiomerically-pure 3-methyl-5-(1(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 -alkyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole having the formula ##STR28## wherein Alk is methyl, comprising:

• (a) reducing the CBZ-protected-L-proline having the formula ##STR29## with a suitable reducing agent to give the CBZ-protected-L-prolinol having the formula ##STR30## (b) selectively oxidizing the CBZ-protected-L-prolinol compound to give the CBZ-protected-L-prolinal having the formula ##STR31## (c) condensing the CBZ-protected-L-prolinal compound with an ylid derived from acetone to give the CBZ-protected-L-propenal product having formula ##STR32## (d) converting the CBZ-protected-L-propenal compound into its oxime by reaction with hydroxylamine in the presence of a weak organic base and a suitable solvent to give the hydroxylimine compound having the formula ##STR33## (e) cyclizing and dehydrating the hydroxylimine compound by reaction with Kl and l.sub.2 in the presence of a weak organic base to give the CBZ-protected 3-methyl-5-(2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole compound having the formula ##STR34## and (f) reductively cleaving the protecting group by reaction of the CBZ-protected 3-methyl-5-(2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole compound with a suitable hydride reducing agent and isolating the desired product, 3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, in high chiral purity.