Cyclic N,O-aminals can be chemoselectively and efficiently deprotected using a catalytic amount of bismuth(III) bromide in acetonitrile at room temperature. This selectivity was also achieved in the presence of terminal O,O-acetal functionality. The susceptibility of various other groups to cleavage was also investigated. This method has advantages of ease of operation and use of nontoxic and inexpensive reagents in catalytic amounts.

(3R,4R,5S)-4-Acetylamino-5-amino-3-hydroxy-cyclohex-1-ene-carboxylic acid ethyl ester, a functionalized cyclohexene skeleton of GS4104, was diastereoselectively synthesized. A major advantage of this synthesis is the use of readily available L-serine to replace frequently used (-)-shikimic acid or (-)-quinic acid as the starting material. Ring-closing metathesis and diastereoselective Grignard reactions successfully served as the key steps. Absolute configurations of the key intermediates were confirmed by corresponding two-dimensional NMR studies.