Synthesis of (+) and (−) Epibatidine

Abstract A practical synthesis of epibatidine (1) was developed. The key step involved selective reduction of the 5,6-double bond of 7-(tert-butyloxy-carbonyl)-2-(2-chloro-5-pyridyl)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]-heptane-2,5-diene (4) using nickel boride.