Stereoselective formal synthesis of the potent proteasome inhibitor: salinosporamide A

(2R,3S)-α-Methylenelactam 3, the key intermediate in Corey's syntheses of salinosporamide A, has been synthesized from (S)-methyl 2-hydroxymethylpyroglutamate through chemoselective O-protection, regio- and stereoselective N-methylnitrone cycloaddition and quaternarization-elimination reactions as the main steps.