Organocatalytic synthesis of (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-proline (OHMePro), a component of polyoxypeptins, and relatives using OHMePro itself as a catalyst.

An efficient synthesis of (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-3-methylproline (OHMePro), a component of polyoxypeptins, and relatives was achieved, in which an intramolecular asymmetric aldol reaction of the ketoaldehyde using OHMePro itself as an organocatalyst constitutes a key step.