Abstract Coprine (1), a toxine of the mushroom Coprinus atramentarius, was synthesized starting from the 2-amino and 1-carboxy-protected L-glutamic acids 4 and 12. Compound 4 was first decarboxylated by a radical chain reaction to bromide 5 which underwent ring closure to cyclopropanecarboxylate 6 on treatment with NaH (Scheme 1). Subsequent oxidative electrolysis of 7 to form tert-butyl N-(1-ethoxycyclopropyl) carbamate (8) and ...
