The alkylated maleic imide adducts of type 3 have been shown to underg
o highly regioselective selectride reductions. As with these compounds
regioselectivity in further transformations including a thermal retro
process translates directly into enantioselectivity, various cyclisat
ion techniques were applied. The advanced cycloadducts obtained led to
the enantiopure alkaloid precursors 9, 17, 20 and 25 in very high yie
ld.