A formal total synthesis of natural (-)-epibatidine has been developed. Key steps in the synthesis are a copper(I)-mediated coupling of an (S)-pyroglutamic acid-derived organozine reagent with 1-iodo-3-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne and an N-acyl- or N-sulfonyliminium ion cyclization, Following this route, various N-protected hydroxylactams were converted into 7-azabicylo[2,2,1]heptane derivatives, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.