Efficient total synthesis of (-)-kaitocephalin.

A highly diastereoselective total synthesis of (-)-kaitocephalin, a novel antagonist of ionotropic glutamate receptors, was accomplished in 12 steps starting from 5-substituted proline ester via the aldol reaction with OBO-serine aldehyde, (E)-selective alpha,beta-dehydroamino acid synthesis using a new HWE reagent, and catalytic hydrogenation.