“…A mixture of guanidine 9 (1.70 mmol), β-keto ester 11 (1.96 g, 5.1 mmol), morpholinium acetate (250 mg, 1.7 mmol), Na 2 SO 4 (250 mg), and trifluoroethanol (3.5 mL) was heated at 60 °C for 2 d. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was filtered, and concentrated. 4R,7R,8aR)-4-[6R-Hydroxynonyl]-7-methyl-1,2,2a,3,4,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,6,8b-triazaacenaphthylenium tetrafluoroborate (13) A solution of guanidine ester 12 (200 mg, 0.35 mmol), (PPh 3 ) 4 Pd (10 mg, 0.009 mmol), pyrrolidine (140 μL, 1.7 mmol), THF (2 mL), and MeOH (2 mL) was maintained at room temperature. After 6 h, the reaction was concentrated and acetic acid (5 mL) was added.…”